Turkey on Track to Break Tourism Record with 49.2M Visitors in First Nine Months
Turkey is on track for a record-breaking tourism year, welcoming 49.2 million tourists in the first nine months of 2024. This represents a remarkable 9% increase compared to the same period in 2023, demonstrating Turkey’s growing appeal as a premier international destination.
Istanbul, Europe’s largest city, led the way by hosting 14 million tourists during the period. In contrast, the popular Turkish Mediterranean resort destination of Antalya attracted 13.3 million vacationers. These numbers highlight Turkey’s diverse appeal, from the cultural and historical attractions in Istanbul to the beach and resort experiences along its Mediterranean coast.
The strong performance positions Turkey as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets. This growth benefits from its strategic location bridging Europe and Asia, rich cultural heritage, and competitive pricing compared to other Mediterranean destinations. The tourism boom is providing significant economic benefits to the country and supporting employment across the hospitality and service sectors.
Industry experts expect Turkey to continue this momentum through the remainder of 2024, potentially setting new annual visitor records and cementing its position as a top global tourism destination.
Source: Travel Industry Today