Turkey Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 22 July 2024

Turkey, a country where the East meets the West, stands as a prominent destination for travellers worldwide. It offers a unique blend of historical, cultural, and natural attractions.

How many tourists visit Turkey each year?

Over 49.21 million tourists travelled to Turkey in 2023.¹

• From 32.41 million international visitors in 2017, international visitor numbers in Turkey increased to 45.06 million tourists in 2019.

• The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated travel restrictions caused a drastic decline in 2020, with just 12.73 million visitors, a drop of 71.7%. 

• 2021 marked the beginning of a recovery, with numbers doubling to 24.71 million.

• Tourism in Turkey nearly reached its pre-pandemic levels with 44.56 million visitors in 2022.

• In 2023, the numbers hit a new high with 49.21 million international visitors, a 10.4% growth from 2022.
  

How much do overseas visitors spend in Turkey?

Visitors spent over $55.87 billion during trips to Turkey in 2023 (including spending by both foreign visitors and Turkish citizens living abroad).²

• From $31.25 billion in tourism income in 2017, revenue climbed to $42.85 billion in 2019.

• The global travel restrictions impacted Turkey’s tourism revenue in 2020, which plummeted to $15.17 billion, marking a 64.6% reduction from the previous year. 

• In 2021, tourism began to bounce back with earnings of $30.31 billion.

• Visitor spending continued to climb in 2022, reaching $49.86 billion. 2023 saw a further recovery, tourism income increased by 12.1%, reaching a new peak of $55.87 billion.
  

What countries visit Turkey the most?

In 2023, Turkey welcomed international visitors from Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and Iran.

• Leading the way, Russia sent more than 6.31 million tourists to Turkey.

• Germany followed closely, bringing 6.19 million visitors.

• The United Kingdom was next, with 3.8 million British tourists exploring Turkey. In addition, Bulgaria contributed 2.89 million visitors, while over 2.50 million tourists came from Iran.
  
  

How many people visited Turkey in 2022?

In 2022, Turkey saw a significant rise in tourism, welcoming 44.56 million international visitors. 

• This was an 80.1% increase over the 24.7 million tourists who explored Turkey in 2021. Visitor numbers neared the 45.06 million visitor peak of 2019.
  
  

How much did visitors spend in Turkey in 2022?

Visitors spent $49.85 billion in Turkey in 2022.

• This figure underscored a 64.3% uptick in revenue from the $30.31 billion recorded in 2021 and moved Turkey closer to the pre-pandemic spend of $42.85 billion in 2019.

• Each visitor spent an average of $971 in 2022, showing a decrease of 5.91% from the previous year.
  
  

Impact of Coronavirus – Turkey Tourism Statistics 2021

Over 30.04 million travellers (including both foreign visitors and Turkish citizens living abroad) visited Turkey in 2021, generating approximately $30.31 billion in tourism revenue.

• 2021 marked the initial recovery phase for Turkey, with visitor numbers increasing by 88.2% from 2020, and tourism income almost doubling (a 99.7% increase) from the previous year.

• The average spending per visitor increased to $1,032, a rise of 7.72% from 2020.
  
  

Impact of Coronavirus – Turkey Tourism Statistics 2020 

Over 15.97 million travellers (including both foreign visitors and Turkish citizens living abroad) visited Turkey in 2020, contributing $15.17 billion to the tourism sector.

• The year 2020 saw a drastic decline in Turkey’s tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• Compared to 2019 figures, visitor numbers fell by 69.1% from $51.74 million, and tourism income decreased by 64.6% from $42.85 billion.

• The average expenditure per visitor was $958, up 15.98% from 2019.
  
  

Turkey Travel Resources

• Car rental prices in Turkey
• Car rental prices in Istanbul
  
  

Turkey Tourism Statistics 2019

Over 51.75 million travellers (including both foreign visitors and Turkish citizens living abroad) visited Turkey in 2019, bringing in $42.85 billion in tourism income.

• Russia led as the top source of tourists, with more than 7.02 million Russians visiting Turkey in 2019. Other major contributors included Germany, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and Iran.

• On average, each visitor spent $826 during their stay in Turkey in 2019.
  
  

Top Destinations in Turkey

• Istanbul: Turkey’s largest city and a major cultural and historical hub, famous for sites like the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. Istanbul attracts around 13.4 million tourists annually based on pre-pandemic data.

• Antalya: A city on the Mediterranean coast, known for its historic old city, beaches, and resorts. Antalya receives an estimated 12.4 million visitors per year based on pre-pandemic data.

• Cappadocia: Celebrated for its unique rock formations, cave dwellings, and hot air balloon rides. Cappadocia’s visitor numbers vary, but the region usually hosts around 2 million tourists each year.

• Ephesus: An ancient city noted for its well-preserved ruins, including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. The Ephesus archaeological site attracts around 2 million visitors annually, though this can change from year to year.

• Pamukkale: Known for its white travertine terraces and mineral-rich thermal waters. The site usually sees over 2 million visitors each year.
  

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References

1. TCKTB: Turkey Border Entry-Exit Statistics for 2023 ↩︎
2. TCKTB: Turkey Tourism Revenues And Expenses ↩︎