In 2025, Türkiye's tourism sector experienced its most successful period in history. According to the data announced by the Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Türkiye hosted 64 million foreign visitors this year. Tourism revenues increased to 65.2 billion USD as a result of the record number of visitors.
Additionally, Türkiye saw a notable increase in its position in the world's tourism rankings, moving up from eighth to fourth place in terms of visitor numbers since 2017 and from fifteenth to seventh place in terms of tourism-related income. These developments demonstrate that Türkiye is now preferred not only as an affordable destination but also as a country that provides high-quality, premium services.
Tourism policies have also undergone significant transformations. Türkiye is shifting away from sea tourism and towards year-round tourism. In this context, archaeological excavations are accelerating as part of the "Heritage for the Future" project, while cultural tourism is growing. The "night museums" initiative makes historical sites accessible in the evenings. Investments in cruise tourism and ski resorts enhance the country's appeal throughout the year.
According to the data, the average nightly expenditure of tourists reached $100. This demonstrates that the increase in tourism revenues is attributable to both the number of visitors and the rise in per-capita spending.
Russia, Germany, and the United Kingdom were the top three countries in terms of visitor numbers. 6.9 million Russians, 6.75 million Germans, and 4.27 million British tourists chose Türkiye.
The goal for 2026 is to boost tourism revenue to 68 billion dollars. In order to accomplish this, innovative marketing campaigns, such as "An Istanbul Story," which has garnered tens of millions of views across digital platforms, will be implemented alongside new infrastructure initiatives.