December sees a 14% surge in visitor numbers
According to the Ministry’s data, Türkiye welcomed a total of 3.398 million visitors in December 2024, including 809,000 Turkish citizens residing abroad and 2.588 million foreign nationals. This represents a 13.99% increase compared to the same month in the previous year.
Germany led the list of countries sending the most visitors in December, with 255,622 tourists, followed closely by Iran with 255,567, Bulgaria with 233,000, and the Russian Federation with 205,000.
2024 annual figures: 62.3 million visitors
Over the 12-month period from January to December 2024, Türkiye recorded a total of 62.3 million visitors, marking a 9.8% year-on-year increase. Of these, 52.629 million were foreign tourists, while 9.640 million were Turkish citizens living abroad.
The Russian Federation remained Türkiye’s top source market, contributing 6.710 million visitors. Germany followed with 6.620 million, the United Kingdom with 4.433 million, Iran with 3.277 million, and Bulgaria with 2.918 million. Notably, Türkiye saw significant growth from key markets, including a 6.9% increase from Germany, a 6.2% rise from the Russian Federation, and a 16.6% surge from the United Kingdom.
Poland emerges as a strong tourism market
In 2024, Türkiye attracted 27 million visitors from European OECD and non-OECD countries, reflecting a 7.72% increase. Beyond Germany and the UK, Poland stood out as a key contributor, sending 1.866 million visitors, followed by the Netherlands with 1.303 million, Italy with 719,000, and Greece with 707,000.
Growth in South Asian markets
Türkiye experienced remarkable growth from South Asian markets, with China recording a 65% increase in visitor numbers, reaching 409,000. India also saw a 20% rise, with 330,000 tourists. Overall, South Asian countries contributed 4.391 million visitors, a 27.7% increase compared to the previous year.
Mixed trends in CIS markets
While some Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) markets, such as Georgia, Armenia, and Tajikistan, saw declines of 10%, 1.1%, and 58%, respectively, others demonstrated strong growth. Ukraine recorded a 12% increase, Uzbekistan a 21% rise, the Russian Federation a 6.2% boost, and Azerbaijan an 11.7% surge. Overall, CIS markets contributed 12.574 million visitors, reflecting a 5.33% increase.
US nears 1.5 million visitors, Israel sees sharp decline
The United States remained a significant market for Türkiye, with 1.442 million visitors, an 8% increase. South Korea and Japan also showed strong growth, with 206,000 (up 30%) and 134,000 (up 71%) visitors, respectively. However, Israel experienced a dramatic 89% decline, sending only 85,000 tourists. Iran, on the other hand, saw a 30% increase, contributing 3.277 million visitors.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia sent 869,000 visitors, a 6% increase, while countries such as the UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq saw declines ranging from 7% to 29%.
