Tourism in Turkey

Turkey was the most popular foreign destination for Russian tourists in 2018, with visitor numbers rising 25 percent, said a trade group on Dec. 26.

Turkey is planning to introduce a new theme and a logo for its tourism and cultural promotion, abandoning the symbolic tulip in advertisements and "Turkey Home" campaign.

The number of Japanese visitors in Turkey has increased by almost 90 percent in 2018, the culture and tourism minister said on Nov. 13.

The number of foreigners visiting Turkey in the first seven months of 2018 increased by nearly 25 percent, compared to the same period last year, data from the Culture and Tourism Ministry showed on Aug. 29.

The historic cave church of St. Peter in southern Turkey - one of the oldest churches in the world - has become a major destination for faith-based tourism.

Two Russian tourists have been detained at the airport in the southern province of Antalya while trying to flee Turkey after damaging their hotel room.

The number of tourists visiting Turkey in the first half of 2018 surged 30 percent year-on-year, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister said on July 27.

Medical tourism has become a booming sector in Turkey, with 700,000 people visiting the country last year, the head of the Istanbul International Health Tourism Association (ISTUSAD) has said.

One of Turkey's most significant tourism spots, the Sümela Monastery has been closed to visitors while it undergoes restorations. The monastery still draws local and foreign tourists. 

Nearly 11.5 million foreigners visited Turkey in the first five months of 2018, the Culture and Tourism Ministry announced on Friday.