Turkey achieved a record tourism revenue of $25.8 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 7.6% increase compared to the same period last year. This progress puts the government’s target of an annual tourism revenue target of $64 billion, a 4.7% increase from last year well within reach.
According to Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, the number of tourists in the first six months of the year reached 26 million 389 thousand, a 1% rise from the previous year. Additionally, the average length of stay for tourists grew by 8%, exceeding expectations.
Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy cited multiple challenges, including the Istanbul earthquake on April 23, India-Pakistan tensions, climate change, and military escalations between Israel and Iran, which impacted booking trends. However, the Turkish government’s adaptive policies helped the tourism sector maintain positive growth despite these obstacles.
Planned Tourist Events
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is organizing the “Anatolia Festival” in five eastern and southeastern provinces—Hakkari, Tunceli, Şırnak, Bingöl, and Bitlis—from August 22 to September 28 to promote tourism in less-developed regions.
Data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) shows that tourism revenue in the second quarter of 2025 reached $16.3 billion, an 8.4% year-on-year increase. The primary travel purposes were leisure and cultural activities, while spending on international transportation and tour services also saw significant growth.
Turkey’s Treasury Minister highlighted that tourism revenue over the 12 months leading to June 2025 totaled $62.9 billion, emphasizing the sector’s key role in strengthening the country’s balance of payments despite regional tensions.