As Türkiye’s summer season winds down, a new trend is emerging among domestic travelers: shorter holidays, fewer nights away, and far higher costs.
Despite the country’s rich coastal escapes and mountain getaways, the latest tourism data shows that rising inflation and falling purchasing power are reshaping how—and how often—Turks travel at home.
According to figures from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), household tourism spending in the second quarter of 2025 reached 116.9 billion TL, but the number of travelers dropped sharply. Only 13.9 million residents took domestic trips between April and June, down 13.9% compared with the same period last year. Average overnight stays also fell to 5.8 nights, one of the lowest figures in years. The decline reflects how high costs, particularly for food and transport, are eroding the country’s once-vibrant domestic travel market.
Shorter Trips, Higher Spending
Data shows that Turks are spending more but traveling less. The average expenditure per trip rose to 6,848 TL from 5,200 TL a year earlier, while the cost of eating out surged to record levels. Food and beverage spending reached 35.2 billion TL in the second quarter—nearly one-third of all travel-related expenses—driven by a 36% annual increase in food inflation. Just before the pandemic in 2019, the same figure stood at only 3.3 billion TL, showing how quickly the cost of leisure has escalated.
Other major expenses included transport, which accounted for 25.8% of total spending, and accommodation at 15.7%. Analysts say that even with higher nominal spending, many households are cutting trips short or skipping travel altogether due to inflationary pressures and stagnant wages.
Prof. Dr. Hakkı Hakan Yılmaz, Program Director at TEPAV, said the effect of public spending on inflation in Türkiye remains strong and may become even more evident in 2026. “Government expenditures are one of the main drivers keeping inflation high,” he noted, emphasizing that consumer prices continue to rise despite seasonal relief in food supply.
Domestic Travel Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
Separate data compiled by Turizm Databank paints a similar picture. During the first half of 2025, the number of domestic travelers stood at 24.6 million—roughly 10% below the 2019 level of 26.6 million. Total trips numbered 29.7 million, compared to 33.5 million six years ago, while overnight stays fell from 236.8 million in 2019 to just 184.5 million this year—a drop of more than 20%.
The only metric showing growth was total spending, which climbed 30% in lira terms due largely to inflation. In dollar terms, however, the increase was limited to about 9%. As the cost of dining and lodging continues to rise, many Turks have shifted toward shorter getaways or day trips within their regions instead of weeklong holidays at coastal resorts.
Industry observers note that the trend risks deepening inequality in domestic tourism, with travel increasingly seen as a luxury rather than a staple of middle-class life. “Higher prices and short-term visas may limit international travel, but rising costs are now also restricting mobility within the country,” said one tourism consultant quoted by local media.
For Türkiye’s tourism industry, which relies on strong local demand to complement foreign arrivals, the challenge now is not attracting interest—but affordability. As 2026 approaches, both policymakers and businesses are watching whether easing inflation can help revive the travel habits of millions who have been priced out of their own country’s holidays.
