Türkiye has witnessed a significant increase in foreign tourist arrivals, with nearly 5 million visitors in October 2023, marking a 3.8% rise from the previous year.
This figure notably exceeds the pre-pandemic level of 4.3 million in October 2019, showcasing a robust recovery in the country’s tourism sector.
Antalya, the jewel of the Turkish Riviera, led the way with 1.8 million visitors, as reported by the Culture and Tourism Ministry.
Following close behind was Istanbul, Türkiye’s most populous city, attracting 1.6 million foreign tourists in the same month.
The Aegean province of Mugla and the northwestern province of Edirne, neighbors to Bulgaria and Greece, also saw substantial numbers, with 386,811 and 372,341 foreign tourists, respectively.
German tourists topped the list, comprising 17.3% of the visitors in October, followed by Russian and British nationals, indicating a diverse international interest in Türkiye’s offerings.
The upward trend is further evidenced by the year-to-date data. In the first ten months of the year, Türkiye experienced an 11.6% annual increase in foreign tourist arrivals, reaching a total of 44.2 million. Russia led the list of countries with the highest number of tourists visiting Türkiye during this period, followed closely by Germany and the UK.
Istanbul remained a prime destination, welcoming 33.4% of all foreign tourists from January to October, amounting to 14.8 million. Antalya was not far behind, attracting 32% of the visitors, which translates to 14.1 million tourists.
Edirne, with its strategic location and rich history, also drew a significant number of visitors, accounting for 9.1% of the total foreign tourist arrivals.
