Tourism in Turkey

More than 7 million foreign tourists have arrived in Antalya by air between Jan. 1 and July 18, marking a 24 percent increase from the same period of last year.

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).

Antalya, one of Turkey's major holiday destinations, has welcomed 3.1 million foreign tourists since the start of the year.

Foreign tourist arrivals in the city, which is located on the Mediterranean coast, increased by 227 percent between Jan. 1 and June 12 from the same period of last year, according to data from the provincial directorate of culture and tourism.

Some 2.6 million foreign tourists visited Turkey in April, pointing to a strong 226 percent increase from a year ago.

Since the start of the year, foreign tourist arrivals have recorded three-digit increases on an annual basis. In January, foreign tourist visits rose by 151 percent, while in February and March, they grew by 187 percent and 130 percent, respectively.

Turkey has lured more tourists than Spain for the first time ever, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has said.

Turkey was the first nation in Europe and other nearby destinations to come up with the idea of a "safe tourism certificate" and implemented this certificate program very successfully, Ersoy told members of the parliament's budget and planning commission.

Turkey aims to attract as many as 50 million foreign holidaymakers and generate $50 billion in tourism revenues in 2023, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has said.

Turkish resort town Bodrum has been featured in the Travel+Leisure 2021 World's Best Awards list, ranking as one of the best 25 cities in the world.

Istanbul, the country's largest metropolis, was also added to the same list.

Turkey, Tourism, award,

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy on Sept. 4 reaffirmed the government's annual target of 25 million foreign tourists.

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"We are not doing badly. We are still committed to our target of 25 million tourists and $20 billion in revenues that we announced at the start of the season," he said during a press conference at Istanbul's Maiden Tower.

Antalya, the heartland of Turkey's tourism industry, has hosted more than 5 million foreign tourists so far this year - up 253 percent year on year.

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Despite the impacts of recent forest fires on its Aegean and Mediterranean resort towns, Turkey still hopes to host 25 million foreign visitors this year, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said on Aug. 6.

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