Türkiye has emerged as one of the strongest destinations in the German travel market for the 2026 summer season, according to the German Travel Association (DRV). The group said demand for flights and package holidays to Türkiye remained firm, with Spain and Greece also among the top choices for German holidaymakers.
DRV said it expects only modest growth across the wider travel market this summer, after revising its forecast down from 3% earlier in the year to about 1%. It estimates total summer travel spending at about 57 billion euros, while full-year turnover for the 2025/2026 tourism year is forecast to reach about 85 billion euros.
The association said Türkiye has stayed especially popular in the all-inclusive and package holiday segment, with Antalya and the country’s Mediterranean coast continuing to attract German visitors.
In its first assessment of the 2026 summer season, DRV said travel demand has remained strong despite economic uncertainty, geopolitical developments and rising costs. The analysis was prepared with Dr. Fried & Partner and Travel Data + Analytics.
Tour operators have also reported a recent increase in sales to Türkiye. DRV said bookings for Egypt and Türkiye had returned to stability, while demand for Türkiye had gained momentum in recent weeks.
The association said a large share of summer holiday bookings had already been completed by the end of 2025. But new reservations slowed briefly in the first months of this year because of developments in the Middle East, before picking up again from the end of May.
DRV president Albin Loidl said travel demand remained strong, but consumers were comparing more offers because of changing conditions and were paying closer attention to the balance between price and service.
The group said this trend has helped package holidays and all-inclusive trips, which it described as safer and easier to plan during uncertain periods. Türkiye’s strong position in that segment is one of the factors supporting its competitive advantage in the German market.
DRV also reported positive developments for Mediterranean destinations and cruise holidays. Spain and Greece joined Türkiye as the main markets for the summer season, while long-haul travel continued to lag behind expectations.
The association said some Asia-linked journeys had been disrupted because of developments in the Middle East, which slowed recovery in distant destinations. It added that the wider tourism sector has shown resilience in crisis periods and could rebound quickly if stable conditions return.
