Türkiye's tourism revenues rose 17 percent year-on-year to 54.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, the culture and tourism minister announced Wednesday. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy also pointed out at a meeting in Istanbul that the sector ended the year 2023 with 56.7 million visitors, a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year. Ersoy explained that Türkiye had changed its strategy and diversified its tourism products since 2018. "We see the impact of tourism product diversification on the average length of stay when we introduce products that involve short-term stays, such as international events, sports tournaments, and festivals," he added. In 2023, Türkiye was the...
Türkiye in International Media
The Turkish Presidency's Director of Communications, Fahrettin Altun, said that they will continue to expose the black propaganda and disinformation techniques used by Israel. During the "2023-2024 Evaluation and Vision Meeting," Director of Communications Altun said, "Whatever techniques the perpetrators employ to conceal their terrible crimes, we will draw the attention of the international community to them." Altun noted that, as the Directorate of Communications, they have been waging an effective struggle to draw the world's attention to the facts of the Gaza conflict since October 7 and said, "As part of this effort, we coordinate the members of the press...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was on a visit to Türkiye, in the capital Ankara. While focusing on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the two sides emphasised that the Palestinian issue is a common focus of Türkiye and Iran. At a joint press conference held following the meeting, Erdoğan said that he and Raisi discussed the necessity and urgency of ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and urged the parties to refrain from actions that would further threaten regional security and stability. Erdoğan voiced that the two countries reiterated their support for...
The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye ratified Sweden's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on January 23. The Turkish approval procedure is nearly finalised. The NATO membership of Sweden, which had been substantially postponed on account of Turkish resistance, has now advanced considerably towards materialisation. The only nation that has yet to finalise the ratification procedure is Hungary. Prime Minister Kristersson of Sweden praised this development, stating, "Today marks another step towards complete NATO membership." NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg urged Hungary to ratify "as soon as possible." Türkiye had imposed a membership requirement that Sweden cease its...
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had a videoconference with Türkiye’s first-ever astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı. Erdoğan wished the astronaut success in his research on the International Space Station, stating that Türkiye's manned space mission will usher in a new age of space exploration. Gezeravcı expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to represent Türkiye on this significant mission. On the night of January 19, Alper Gezeravcı embarked on a journey to the International Space Station aboard the Dragon spacecraft, joining the crew of the Ax-3 mission.
According to an article in Spanish media, a senior defence official from Türkiye stated that the country has begun developing a sixth-generation fighter jet that will be integrated with artificial intelligence (AI). Haluk Görgün, President of Defence Industries, said that Kaan, the indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, will make its maiden flight "very soon." Kaan, one of the most important military projects in Turkish history, successfully completed its first taxi test in mid-March last year. Görgün noted that mass production of the Kaan fighter jet will begin in 2028, with homegrown engines powering the aircraft. Kaan is...
A four-man crew including Türkiye's first astronaut arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) early on Saturday for a two-week stay in the latest such mission arranged entirely at commercial expense by Texas-based startup company Axiom Space. The rendezvous came about 37 hours after the Axiom quartet's Thursday evening liftoff in a rocketship from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Both the Crew Dragon vessel and the Falcon 9 rocket that carried it to orbit were supplied, launched and operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX under contract with Axiom, as they were in the first two Axiom missions to the...
For the First Time, a Turkish Spacefarer is Heading to the International Space Station (ISS) on a Special SpaceX Mission As planned, the Falcon 9 rocket of the US space company lifted off from a spaceport in Florida. Three spacefarers from Sweden, Italy, and Spain are aboard the rocket, in addition to the Turkish Air Force pilot. They are expected to stay on the ISS for approximately two weeks. Prior to this mission, special crews had flown to the International Space Station in 2022 and 2023. Previously, only individual space tourists were on board the ISS. The mission sparked widespread interest in TÃ...
The OKAF’24 Forum, held on 10-11 January 2024, at the TUYAP Exhibition and Congress Center in Samsun, Türkiye, was a resounding success, bringing together over 1,000 students, graduates, and employers from across Türkiye and beyond. The forum served as a valuable platform for career exploration, education, and professional development, providing participants with insights into the job market, essential skills, and pathways to a fulfilling career. Representatives from prominent companies in various sectors, including technology, finance, and healthcare, shared their expertise and insights into the current job market demands. Students and graduates gained valuable knowledge about sought-after skills and competencies,...