Antalya

Antalya, one of Türkiye's hottest tourist spots on the Mediterranean coast, welcomed 11.7 million visitors in the first eight months of 2024.

The number of holidaymakers visiting the city increased by 8.3 percent from the January-July period of last year, said the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Three Turkish cities have made notable appearances on the 2024 Happy City Index prepared by the U.K.-based Institute for Quality of Life.

Istanbul, Türkiye's bustling metropolis, ranks 197th, while the coastal gems of İzmir and Antalya secure the 222nd and 246th positions, respectively.

The number of foreign tourists visiting the Turkish Mediterranean resort of Antalya surged by 45 percent in March from a year ago to reach a record 505,000.

In the first three months of 2024, the popular holiday destination welcomed more than 1 million visitors, also marking a first-quarter all-time high.

Tourism companies and hoteliers in Antalya are seeking to lure millions of European pensioners, betting that the rising cost of living in the continent will make the province an appealing destination.

?Street Sellers in Turkey of the 19th Century,?