Müberra Eresin

Istanbul, Türkiye's cultural, financial and commercial capital, is hoping to welcome a total of 20 million visitors this year.

Last year, the megacity welcomed 17.4 million foreign tourists, up from more than 16 million visitors in 2022.

Iranians are expected to visit Türkiye the most during Nevruz celebrations, taking benefit of their two-week national holiday, sector representatives have said.

Iranian tourists are preparing to spend the Nevruz period between March 21 and April 1 in Türkiye. The initial rush of tourists will arrive from the Kapıköy border gate in the eastern province of Van on March 17.

Türkiye's hotel industry continues to grow with new players joining the market, the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÜROB) has said in a recent report.

The number of chain and group hotels in the country increased from 57 in 2019 to 67 last year, including 46 local and 21 international chains, showed the report.

Turkish hoteliers are hopeful that tourism activity in 2024 will be as strong as it was last year or even better.

The hotel occupancy rate was 68.8 percent in September, declining by 12 percent from a year ago, says Müberra Eresin, the president of the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÜROB).

The occupancy rate also fell by 12 percent in the January-September period compared with the first nine months of 2022 to 59 percent, she added.

The latest data for incentive certificates issued by authorities show that appetite for hotel investments remained strong in the first half of 2023, says Müberra Eresin, the president of the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÖROB).

From January to September, 131 hotel projects with 23,725 rooms in the country's 29 of all 81 provinces received investment incentives, according to Eresin.

More than 10 million foreign tourists have already arrived by air in the Turkish holiday hotspot Antalya this year.

The number of foreign visitors between Jan. 1 and Aug. 22 increased by 20 percent from a year earlier, according to the provincial directorate of culture and tourism.

The UEFA Champions League final game that Istanbul hosted at the weekend has given a huge boost to the city's hotels and marks "a milestone" for the local tourism industry, says Müberra Eresin, the president of the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÜROB).

Companies operating in the services, real eatate sectors and export-oriented industries are keeping a close eye on finance and costs in 2023.

Uncertainties over energy security, supply-related issues and the EU's carbon tax will be high on Turkish companies' agenda in the new year.

But most industries are mainly concerned about energy costs and access to financing.

Istanbul is currently enjoying one of the business periods in tourist season this year and first-time visitors to the city are on the rise, says Müberra Eresin, the chair of the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÜROB).