Turkey aims to become one of the top three global travel destinations by 2028, according to a senior official. The country is also working to extend the tourism season and enhance the appeal of its cultural, historical, and archaeological sites.
In 2023, Turkey welcomed a record-breaking 49.2 million international visitors, up from 44.6 million the previous year, with most visitors coming from Russia, Germany, and the UK.
Including the nearly 7.5 million Turks living abroad, the total visitor count reached 56.7 million.
The Turkish government expects tourist numbers to reach 60 million this year and aims for around 80 million by 2028, as stated by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
Ersoy commented, “When I started, we were ranked seventh globally; now we’ve moved to fourth. Our goal is to break into the top three,” acknowledging competition from countries like China, the U.S., Spain, and France.
Tourism is vital for Turkey’s economy, particularly for converting the current account deficit into a surplus and addressing inflation, while emphasizing exports, production, and investments.
Last year, tourism revenues hit a record $54.32 billion, up from $46.48 billion in 2022, with expectations to reach $60 billion this year and $100 billion by 2028.
The average income per tourist was $93 per night in 2023, with targets to increase it to $103 this year and $130 by 2028.
Ersoy attributes these ambitious goals to strategic diversification of markets and products, enhancing the sector’s resilience against crises and geopolitical tensions.
He highlighted Turkey’s commitment to diversifying tourism offerings to promote year-round travel, focusing on cultural and archaeological experiences that appeal to Asian tourists and high-value Western travelers.
To achieve these goals, Turkey plans to highlight its rich cultural and archaeological heritage, particularly in its eastern and southeastern regions, to attract tourism to all 81 provinces.
The country has expanded its tourism reach to every city served by Turkish Airlines, moving from reliance on a few countries to a network covering over 330 cities, thereby balancing market and product risks, according to the minister.