Compared to the same period of the previous year, the number of foreign visitors to Istanbul increased by 10.31%.
According to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Istanbul hosted 1,678,832 foreign visitors in May, an 11.48% increase compared to the same month last year.
In May, the majority of visitors to Istanbul came from the Russian Federation with 176,702 people. Germany followed with 140,214 visitors, the United States with 90,318 visitors, and Iran with 84,587 visitors. The UK had 80,052 visitors, France had 66,170 visitors, and Saudi Arabia had 57,071 visitors.
Istanbul Airport: The top choice
In May, Istanbul Airport was the preferred entry point for foreign visitors to Istanbul.
Istanbul Airport was chosen by 1,198,723 foreign visitors in May. The airport accounted for 72.85% of the total number of foreign visitors arriving in Istanbul by air.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport saw 445,225 foreign visitors in May, making it the second most popular entry point for foreign visitors, accounting for 27.06% of those arriving by air.
The number of foreign visitors arriving in Istanbul by air in May increased by 12.09% compared to the same month in 2023, reaching 1,645,423.
April occupancy rate at 51.47%
According to the latest accommodation statistics published by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of arrivals at ministry-certified facilities in April totaled 1,129,657.
These facilities saw a total of 2,499,143 overnight stays, with an average stay of 2.21 nights. The occupancy rate of accommodation facilities in Istanbul for April was 51.47%.
