Türkiye Broke a Record in Tourism: 26 Million Visitors in the First Half of 2024
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Ersoy shared the second-quarter tourism data of 2024 at a press conference held at Atatürk Cultural Center. He stated that interest in Turkey increased after the pandemic. Minister Ersoy mentioned, “We broke a historical record with 26,137,000 visitors in the first half of 2024, which indicates an increase of 13.9 percent. We have observed a 23.6 per cent increase in the number of visitors compared to the pre-pandemic period.”
Minister Ersoy emphasized that Turkey has recovered rapidly from the pandemic and stated, “In 2023, we achieved a new record with 56,694,000 visitors. Our target for this year is 60 million visitors, with an expected year-end increase rate of 5.8 per cent. We have experienced a 13.9 per cent increase in the first six months, and we are on track to meet our year-end targets with consistent growth.”
Great Rise in Tourism: Türkiye is Taking Confident Steps to Its 2024 Goals
Ersoy mentioned that major sports events, like the 2024 European Football Championship and the 2024 Summer Olympics, have an impact on summer visits to Turkey. He anticipates a rise in the number of visitors after these events conclude in September. According to current data, Turkey is projected to meet its year-end goal of welcoming 60 million visitors with a 6 percent increase rate in October, November, and December.
In the first half of 2024, there were 26 million visitors. Minister Ersoy emphasized the significance of per capita nightly expenditures in tourism and stated, “The per capita income, which was $80 in 2017, increased to $109 in 2024, thanks to our high-quality tourist strategy.” He also mentioned that the record revenue of $23.7 billion achieved in the first half of this year is expected to continue in the second half of the year.
