Türkiye’s tourism sector continues its global rise, attracting 64 million visitors in 2025 and generating US$65.2 billion in revenue, representing a 2.7% increase in arrivals and a 6.8% jump in revenues from 2024, according to its Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
Ersoy highlighted that Türkiye’s transformation from traditional sun-and-sea destinations to a diverse tourism hub, with growth in cultural, faith, nature, archaeology, health, gastronomy, cruise and winter tourism.
He also revealed that Türkiye has climbed to 4th in the world for tourist arrivals and 7th for tourism revenue, up from 8th and 15th in 2017. The government has set a US$68 billion revenue target for 2026.
Promotional efforts like the “Heritage for the Future” initiative, Night Museum projects and the “miniseries” campaign have boosted Türkiye’s global profile, with episodes of “An Istanbul Story” reaching 32 million views.
Ersoy shared that top source markets in 2025 were Russia (6.9 million), Germany (6.75 million) and the UK (4.27 million), with average tourist spending at US$100 per night, up 3.6% from 2024.
Overall, he emphasised that Türkiye’s tourism sector now stands as a global benchmark in both growth and innovation, showcasing resilience and diversification beyond traditional offerings.
