- Özgür Töre
Türkiye attracted some 16.4 million foreign visitors in the first half of this year, an annual surge of 185.7%, according to the latest data from the country's Culture and Tourism Ministry.
Meanwhile, the total arrivals to the country in the first half of 2022 accounted for 19.5 million visitors, including Turkish citizens living abroad.
According to the temporary obtained from the General Directorate of Security and Turkish Statistics Institute; in the 6-month period of January-June 2022, the number of visitors arrived is 19,530 618 an increase of 158,41% compared to the same period last year.
The number of arriving citizens residing abroad is 3,165,538, increased 72,94% compared to the same period in 2021.
In June 2022, the number of foreign visitors that arrived was 5,014,821 that increased by 144,91 % compared to the previous year. 108,199 of them ( 2.16%) were excursionists.
In June 2022, the top 5 provinces foreign visitors entered Turkey are:
1-Antalya %35.79 (1,794,784)
2-İstanbul %29.32 (1,470,586)
3-Muğla %8.85 (443,632)
4-Edirne %8.47 (425,004)
5-İzmir %3.84 (192,454)
In January-June 2022 period, the number of foreign visitors arrived is 16,365,080 which increased by 185.72% compared to the previous year. 230,988 of them (1.41%) were excursionists.
In January-June 2022 period, the top 5 provinces foreign visitors entered Turkey are:
1-İstanbul %41.28 (6,755,300)
2-Antalya %24.74 (4,049,400)
3-Edirne %10.69 (1,749,851)
4-Muğla %5.34 (874,461)
5-Artvin %3,52 (575 920)
DISTRIBUTION OF ARRIVING FOREIGN VISITORS - TOP 5 COUNTRIES (2020-2022) JUNE
| NATIONALITY | 2022* | 2022 NAT. RATIO % | 2021 | 2021 NAT. RATIO % | 2020 | 2020 NAT. RATIO % |
| Germany | 718,838 | 14.33 | 236,307 | 11.54 | 63,268 | 29.46 |
| Russia Fed. | 602,015 | 12.00 | 175,362 | 8.56 | 4,006 | 1.87 |
| United Kingdom (UK) | 453,809 | 9.05 | 10,548 | 0.52 | 10,940 | 5.09 |
| Bulgaria | 242,196 | 4.83 | 114,730 | 5.60 | 15,171 | 7.06 |
| Iran | 211,869 | 4.22 | 79,551 | 3.89 | 5,680 | 2.64 |
| OTHER | 2,786,094 | 55.56 | 1,431,098 | 69.89 | 115,703 | 53.87 |
| GENERAL TOTAL | 5,014,821 | 100.00 | 2,047,596 | 100.00 | 214,768 | 100.00 |
| (*): Provisional Data. | ||||||
In the June 2022 time period, the top tourism markets for Turkey were Germany with 14.33% (718,838), Russia Federation with 12.00% (602,015) United Kingdom (UK) with 9.05% (453,809) share of the total visitors. United Kingdom (UK) is followed by Bulgaria and Iran.
DISTRIBUTION OF ARRIVING FOREIGN VISITORS - TOP 5 COUNTRIES (2019-2021) JANUARY-JUNE
| NATIONALITY | 2022* | 2022 NAT. RATIO % | 2021 | 2021 NAT. RATIO % | 2020 | 2020 NAT. RATIO % |
| Germany | 2,030,548 | 12.41 | 516,404 | 9.02 | 420,360 | 9.33 |
| Russia Fed. | 1,455,912 | 8.90 | 746,724 | 13.04 | 322,058 | 7.14 |
| United Kingdom (UK) | 1,264,275 | 7.73 | 49,299 | 0.86 | 129,663 | 2.88 |
| Bulgaria | 1,188 ,562 | 7.26 | 332,257 | 5.80 | 421,416 | 9.35 |
| Iran | 1,050,588 | 6.42 | 318,333 | 5.56 | 225,858 | 5.01 |
| OTHER | 9,375,195 | 57.29 | 3,764,634 | 65.73 | 2,988,124 | 66.29 |
| GENERAL TOTAL | 16,365,080 | 100.00 | 5,727,651 | 100.00 | 4,507,479 | 100.00 |
| (*): Provisional Data. | ||||||
In the January - June 2022 time period, the top tourism markets for Turkey were Germany with 12.41% (2,030,548) Russia Fed. with 8.90% (1,455,912) United Kingdom (UK) with 7.73% (1,264,275) share of the total visitors. United Kingdom (UK) is followed by Bulgaria and Iran.
