Turkey’s tourism revenue reaches a record $65.2 billion in 2025 as the country welcomes 63.94 million visitors, one of the highest totals in its republican history, according to new figures released at a fourth-quarter press conference.
The data is shared by Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism, who says Turkey has moved beyond being a regional destination to becoming a global tourism force, supported by rising demand from Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Record arrivals fuel Turkey’s strongest tourism year yet
At the press conference, Ersoy says Turkey’s tourism strategy has been reworked to reflect the country’s full potential rather than relying on a narrow set of seasonal flows.
“Turkish tourism has now become a force not only regionally but also globally, and since they came into office, they have re-designed the tourism vision to encompass the entire potential of the country,” said Ersoy.
Arrivals in 2025 reach 63,941,000, the figures show, placing the year among Turkey’s strongest tourism performances on record. The same set of results links that volume to record income, with 2025 tourism revenue reported at $65.2 billion. With these results, Turkey surpassed its 2025 tourism target by the end of the year.
Russia, Germany and the UK power Turkey’s visitor surge
Russia remains Turkey’s top inbound market in 2025, sending 6.90 million visitors during the year. The Russian market continues to play an outsized role in sustaining resort demand, particularly along the Mediterranean coast.
Germany ranks second with 6.75 million visitors. As one of Turkey’s most established markets, steady demand from German travellers is widely viewed as a sign of long-term confidence in the destination.
The United Kingdom comes third, with 4.27 million visitors in 2025. The figures note that the UK’s rise has continued since 2019, helped by growing interest in culture, gastronomy and city tourism as well as classic beach breaks.
The ministry frames the latest results as evidence that Turkey is growing not only in visitor numbers but also in high-volume, more sustainable markets. Strong demand from Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom is described as a key pillar behind the record $65.2 billion tourism revenue in 2025.
The surge reflects a destination that now sells itself in more than one way: not only as a sunshine escape, but as a country where food, heritage and urban weekends are increasingly part of the draw. For the tourism industry, the message is simple: Turkey is posting strong numbers and building momentum in its core European and Eurasian markets.
