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Turkey's tourism revenues nearly triple, but many Turks stay home

• Medium Text

• Foreign visitor numbers rebound to near pre-pandemic levels
• Tourism revenues key to Turkish economy
• Lira's tumble makes Turkey a more attractive destination

COSTS DAMPEN DOMESTIC TOURISM

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• CONSUMER COMPLAINTS
• TÜRSAB ACADEMY
• DIRECTORATE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

TURKEY’S TOURISM POTENTIAL AND RESOURCES

Bridging the two continents Turkey, is a gateway to East and West. It is centrally located between Asia and Europe; the Black Sea on the north and the Mediterranean on the south. Turkey is a vast country; its land mass is 814.578 sq km.

The Black Sea mountain ranges on the north and the Taurus Mountains on the south, running parallel to the coast line, separates the coastal areas from the high Anatolian plateau. The average altitude above sea level of Anatolia is 1000m, rising gradually towards east where the average altitude is around 2000m, with peaks over 4000m and numerous extinct volcanoes. Anatolia is broken up by 15 rivers. There are numerous lakes including Salt Lake in the Central Anatolia; Lake Van in the eastern Turkey with an altitude of 1720m and surface of 3750 sqkm and relatively smaller ones throughout the country.

Turkey has different climatic regions ranging from temperate rainy climate of the Black Sea Region, to the continental in the Central Anatolia and subtropical Mediterranean on the south. From west to east there are also considerable differences and contrasting climatic regions, with hot summers and mild winters in the Marmara and the Aegean region to the Eastern Anatolia with extremes of temperature where the winters are long with heavy snow fall.

The flora and fauna of Turkey are correspondingly diverse. The flora varies from lush forests, steps to typical Aegean and Mediterranean vegetation. With nearly ten thousand species, Turkey is a botanical paradise. Turkey is on the migration routes of birds and there are a number of areas which are the natural habitat for many different species, including rare ones.

Turkey has a historical heritage of successive civilizations from Hittites, Phrygians, Lycians, Lydians, Ionians, Romans, Byzantines to the Seljuks and Ottomans. There history of human kind has continuously added on itself, from the earliest settlements, to the contemporary Turkey today.

Historical assets of past civilizations can be seen anywhere in Turkey from the big cities to smaller towns and rural settlements; from the mountain tops, sacred valleys to the sea bed. The settlement pattern in Turkey today, is more or less the same as it had been through the ages of history. Most cities, house the remains of successive civilizations side by side or one on the top of the other; where cultural values intermingled through centuries. Istanbul, the city of beauty unmatched, proudly preserves the historical legacy of the three empires, and cultural treasures of inestimable value. This unique city of universal repute is the only one in the world situated on two continents. It is truly a city of wonders.

The traveler runs from one surprise to another in Turkey where traditional and modern go hand in hand. A multicentre tour for example, from Istanbul to Ankara the capital city of the modern Turkey today, then to smaller towns with traditional architectural style, picturesque villages set against spectacular landscape of matchless beauty to the modern premier resorts will, without any doubt, be quite an impressive experience, full of surprises and astonishing contrasts for any traveler in the world.

These natural, historical, cultural assets and values altogether constitute an enormous potential and creates the infinite diversity of tourist resources of Turkey, which can be outlined as follows;

• Four seas with 8333 km of varied coastline and range of beaches, bays suited to all types of marine activity yachting and cruising.
• Mountainous areas, occupying more than half of Turkey’s landmass, high plateaus suited to a range of activityholidays, trekking, mountaineering, skiing and winter sports; rivers running through dramatic valleys tempting activity holidays, canoeing, rafting enthusiasts.
• Approximately 1300 geothermal resources with temperature varying between 20-110 C., suitable for many different sorts of cures and treatment of numerous health problems.
• Historical heritage of many successive civilizations, thousands of archeological sites dating back to the earliest settlements as long as 12000 years, a vast open airmuseum, a must do place for anyone who is interested in history and archeology.
• Legacy of cultural values, art treasure of master pieces and socio- cultural values inherited through centuries; diversity in unity, harmony of traditional and contemporary.
• Historic cities, where traditional and contemporary; ancient and super modern go hand in hand; pitoresquestowns, villages and rural settlements.
• Natural wonders such as extraordinary cascades and terraced pools of Pamukkale "Cotton Castle"; fairy chimnies in the land of Cappadocia, with rock-cut dwellings, churches, underground cities, combined withlocal architecture, forming a fascinating mixture of natural- cultural landscape.
• And of course the way of life and socio cultural values, folklore, world famous cuisine, the traditional Turkish hospitality.
• Contrasting geography, different climatic regions,

correspondingly diverse flora and fauna, a varied magnificent landscape, encompassing the vast variety of her geography, aparadise for nature based, special interest tours.

• ANNOUNCEMENTS

Record Breaking: Turkey Tourism Income in 2023 Reveals a 20.5% Surge

• In the first half of 2023, Turkey welcomed about 22.18 million tourists , marking a robust 29.2% increase compared to the previous year, which saw around 17.39 million visitors.
• Turkey’s tourism income was $22.18 billion in the first half of 2023,  marking a 20.5% increase compared to the same period last year, which had recorded $18.39 billion.
• In the first half of 2023, 746,290 people visited Turkey for medical tourism . In 2022, 1,258,382 people did so, marking the first year Turkey surpassed a million arrivals for health tourism.
• In the last quarter (Q2, 2023) Turkey’s tourism income was $12.98 billion, an increase of 23.1% compared to $10.5 billion in the same period the previous year.

Read: Turkey Tourism Statistics (Updated 2023)

In the first half of 2023, Turkey welcomed a staggering 22.18 million tourists. This figure represents a robust 29.2% increase when compared to the previous year, which recorded around 17.39 million visitors. This growth trend showcases the resilience of Turkey’s tourist destinations even in the face of global challenges.

Further sweetening the news, Turkey’s tourism income hit a whopping $22.18 billion during the first six months of 2023, a 20.5% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. For context, the first half of 2022 had registered tourism revenue of $18.39 billion.

Another facet of Turkey’s booming tourism sector is the rise in medical tourism. In the first half of 2023 alone, Turkey played host to 746,290 visitors seeking health and medical services. The previous year, 2022, had already set a groundbreaking record for the nation, being the first year Turkey surpassed a million arrivals specifically for health tourism with a total of 1,258,382 medical tourists.

The numbers are promising and indicate that Turkey continues to be a preferred destination for travelers worldwide, offering not only its rich history, landscapes, and culture but also advanced medical services to those in need.

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Turkey Visitor Arrivals

• Turkey Visitor Arrivals recorded 2,287,473 person in Feb 2024, compared with 2,030,682 person in the previous month
• Turkey Visitor Arrivals data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2005 to Feb 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 6,934,962 person in Jul 2023 and a record low of 21,681 person in Apr 2020

View Turkey's Visitor Arrivals from Jan 2005 to Feb 2024 in the chart:

What was Turkey's Visitor Arrivals in Feb 2024?

Turkey Visitor Arrivals recorded 2,287,473 person in Feb 2024, compared with 2,030,682 person in the previous month See the table below for more data.

Visitor Arrivals by Country Comparison

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Türkiye targets $60B in tourism revenue with 60M tourists in 2024

Tourism investments reach approximately $90b, with tourism employees increasing to 1.5m, says chairman of turkish travel association.

Türkiye targets $60 billion in tourism revenue in 2024, as there has been a significant increase in bookings in the country.

Firuz Baglikaya, chairman of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), told Anadolu that they are working closely with member travel agencies to reach the revenue target in 2024, with an aim to reach 60 million tourists this year.

“Nearly 1.5 billion international trips are made yearly, and with tourism being a highly strategic sector thanks to its employment-creating and value-added structure, competition in the sector is increasing day by day worldwide,” he said.

He stated that the distribution of tourists to Türkiye is mainly concentrated in three to four cities, which needs to change.

“We need to attract tourists from high-spending income groups to Türkiye and increase the share of high-value tourism types, such as cultural, health, and more,” said Baglikaya.

“We aim to ensure with the ‘Century of Tourism' project that the sector booms all over the country and throughout the year,” he added.

- ‘Tourism to continue to determine Türkiye's future'

Baglikaya mentioned that the tourism sector will grow to be even more important than it is today, as the competition in the sector is expected to become intense.

He noted that Türkiye aims to host 100 million tourists in the future, and in the scope of this mission, the tourism sector in the country will advance further.

“We expect that tourism employment, which is at 1.5 million, will at least double with these targets; and therefore, tourism will continue to be one of the sectors that determine Türkiye's future,” he said.

- ‘Total cost of tourism investments stands at approximately $90B'

“Tourism in Türkiye grew from 2 million tourists to 50 million, and today, the total cost of tourism investments has reached approximately $90 billion, and the number of people employed has increased to approximately 1.5 million,” Muberra Eresin, president of the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÜROB), told Anadolu.

“Our goal is to reach $60 billion in tourism revenue and 60 million tourists this year, in line with the target of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and we believe that the sector will continue to reach its targets and to provide strong support to the country's economy, employment, and development,” she said.

“The 12% increase in the number of visitors to Türkiye in the first two months of this year also supports our expectations. Signals from international tourism expos are also positive, hence, we expect an increase in hotel occupancy in 2024,” she added.

- ‘Türkiye has many advantages'

Adviye Bergemann, founding president of the International Sustainable Tourism Association (USTUD), stated that Türkiye has very different dynamics within itself.

“The tourism sector was more cautious in its planning and preparations in 2024, and Europe is doing much better in luxury tourism compared to previous years, with demand showing increased momentum,” she said.

“Despite the many competitors in the sector, Türkiye has many advantages,” she added.

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• Total tourism income in Turkey 2001-2022

Has the Turkish tourism sector recovered after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

The hotel market trends, annual tourism income in turkey from 2001 to 2022 (in billion u.s. dollars).

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2001 to 2022

tourism income from international tourists and Turkish citizens resident abroad

*Annual data for 2020 does not include the second quarter due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Figures prior to 2020 were previously published by the source.

Other statistics on the topic Travel and tourism in Turkey

• Leading inbound travel markets in Turkey 2019-2022
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Statistics on " Travel and tourism in Turkey "

• Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Turkey 2019-2023
• Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in Turkey 2013-2028
• Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Turkey 2019-2022, by type
• Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Turkey 2019-2022, by tourist type
• Tourism income in Turkey 2019-2022, by type of expenditure
• Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Turkey 2019-2023
• Number of employees in tourism industries in Turkey 2015-2021, by service
• Inbound visitor arrivals in Turkey 2008-2023
• Number of international tourist arrivals in Turkey 2000-2023
• Inbound day visitor arrivals in Turkey 2008-2022
• Number of international visitors in Turkey 2022, by purpose of visit
• Inbound tourist expenditure in Turkey Q1 2017-Q4 2021
• Average tourist expenditure per capita of inbound visitors in Turkey 2003-2022
• Number of domestic trips in Turkey 2009-2022
• Domestic overnight stays in Turkey 2009-2022
• Average number of domestic overnight stays in Turkey 2022, by age group
• Domestic tourism spending in Turkey 2019-2022, by type
• Domestic tourism expenditure on leisure and vacation trips in Turkey 2009-2022
• Number of residents traveling abroad from Turkey 2006-2023
• Overnight stays of Turkish citizens traveling abroad 2019-2022, by accommodation type
• Outbound tourism expenditure from Turkey 2003-2022
• Outbound tourist expenditure from Turkey Q1 2017-Q4 2022
• Average tourist expenditure per capita of outbound travelers from Turkey 2003-2022
• Number of arrivals to tourist accommodations in Turkey 2013-2022
• Number of arrivals to tourist accommodations in Turkey 2022, by type of establishment
• Inbound overnight hotel stays in Turkey 2014-2022
• Number of hotel rooms in Turkey 2010-2021
• Number of hotel bed-places in Turkey 2010-2021
• Occupancy rate of star-rated hotels in Turkey 2022, by rating
• Leading European city tourism destinations 2019-2022, by number of bed nights
• Most competitive European cities for business events 2021
• Most visited destinations by international tourists in Turkey 2019-2022
• Number of foreign tourist arrivals to Istanbul 2014-2023
• Number of foreign tourist arrivals to Istanbul 2020-2023
• Overnight accommodation costs in Istanbul 2019-2023, by month
• Most visited museums in Istanbul 2022
• Attitudes towards traveling in Turkey 2023
• Travel frequency for private purposes in Turkey 2023
• Travel frequency for business purposes in Turkey 2023
• Travel product bookings in Turkey 2023

Other statistics that may interest you Travel and tourism in Turkey

• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Turkey 2019-2023
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• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Turkey 2019-2022, by tourist type
• Premium Statistic Total tourism income in Turkey 2001-2022
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Inbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Inbound visitor arrivals in Turkey 2008-2023
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• Premium Statistic Inbound day visitor arrivals in Turkey 2008-2022
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Domestic tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of domestic trips in Turkey 2009-2022
• Premium Statistic Domestic overnight stays in Turkey 2009-2022
• Premium Statistic Average number of domestic overnight stays in Turkey 2022, by age group
• Premium Statistic Domestic tourism spending in Turkey 2019-2022, by type
• Premium Statistic Domestic tourism expenditure on leisure and vacation trips in Turkey 2009-2022

Outbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of residents traveling abroad from Turkey 2006-2023
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• Premium Statistic Outbound tourism expenditure from Turkey 2003-2022
• Premium Statistic Outbound tourist expenditure from Turkey Q1 2017-Q4 2022
• Premium Statistic Average tourist expenditure per capita of outbound travelers from Turkey 2003-2022

Accommodation

• Premium Statistic Number of arrivals to tourist accommodations in Turkey 2013-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of arrivals to tourist accommodations in Turkey 2022, by type of establishment
• Premium Statistic Inbound overnight hotel stays in Turkey 2014-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel rooms in Turkey 2010-2021
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel bed-places in Turkey 2010-2021
• Premium Statistic Occupancy rate of star-rated hotels in Turkey 2022, by rating

Tourism in Istanbul

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• Premium Statistic Number of foreign tourist arrivals to Istanbul 2020-2023
• Premium Statistic Overnight accommodation costs in Istanbul 2019-2023, by month
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Public opinion

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• Premium Statistic Travel frequency for private purposes in Turkey 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel frequency for business purposes in Turkey 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel product bookings in Turkey 2023

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Watch CBS News

U.S. issues travel warning for Israel with Iran attack believed to be imminent and fear Gaza war could spread

By Debora Patta , Tucker Reals

Updated on: April 13, 2024 / 5:25 PM EDT / CBS News

Update: Iran launched drone attacks against Israel on Saturday. Read CBS News'  latest coverage here .

Tel Aviv  — Israel is bracing for a worst-case scenario that U.S. officials believe could materialize within just hours — the possibility of a direct attack on Israeli soil by Iran in retaliation for a strike almost two weeks ago that killed seven Iranian military officers. Iran has vowed to take revenge for Israel killing its commanders, who were hit by an April 1 strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria's capital.

Two U.S. officials told CBS News that a major Iranian attack against Israel was expected as soon as Friday, possibly to include more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets inside the country. Sources have told CBS News the retaliation could include attacks carried out both by Iranian forces, and proxy groups around the region that it has been funneling additional arms to for weeks.  

The officials said it would be challenging for the Israelis to defend against an attack of that magnitude, and while they held out the possibility that the Iranians could opt for a smaller-scale attack to avoid a dramatic escalation, their retaliation was believed to be imminent. 

Asked Friday how imminent he believes an attack is, President Biden responded, "I don't want to get into secure information, but my expectation is sooner than later." The president urged Iran not to move forward, saying his message to Tehran was: "Don't."

Tehran has not indicated publicly how or when it will return fire, so it's unclear how far Iran's leaders will go. If they decide to carry out a direct attack on Israel, there's fear it could blow Israel's ongoing war against Iranian ally Hamas up into a much wider regional conflict.

With the Iranian retaliation expected at any time, the U.S. State Department on Thursday warned Americans in Israel not to travel outside major cities, which are better protected from incoming rocket fire by the country's Iron Dome missile defense system. The latest guidance noted that travel by U.S. government employees in Israel could be further restricted with little notice as things develop in the tinderbox region.

"Whoever harms us, we will harm them," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Thursday as he visited troops at an Israel Defense Forces airbase. "We are prepared … both defensively and offensively."

On Saturday, all U.S. embassies in the Middle East were put on high alert and required to hold emergency action committee meetings. Diplomats in Lebanon and Israel were specifically told not to travel to certain areas within those countries.

Sima Shine, a security expert and former official with Israel's national intelligence agency Mossad, told CBS News it was a dangerous moment for the region, and the "most worried" she has been. She said anxiety over an all-out war was likely just as high "on both sides, in Israel and in Iran."

If Iran does choose to strike Israel directly, it could involve a complex missile and drone attack similar to the one Iranian forces launched against a Saudi oil facility in 2019 .

"They will try to do it on the military or some military asset," Shine predicted. "But the question will be the damage. If there would be many injured people, killed or injured … I think it has the potential for a huge escalation."

Shine stressed, however, that she still believes neither side actually wants a regional conflict.

U.S. "really trying to avoid war"

The U.S. sent a senior general to Israel this week to coordinate with the close American ally on any response it might make to an Iranian attack. Speaking Friday on "CBS Mornings," America's top military officer said, "we're really trying to avoid war."

"This is part of the dialogue that I have with my counterparts within the region, to include the Israeli chief of defense, who I talked to yesterday," said Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., adding that the U.S. military was "doing things not only to prevent a war, but at the same time, one of my primary things is to make sure all the forces in the region are protected."

"My role, as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is to plan and prepare," Brown said. "That's one thing we do very well."

Brown's Israeli counterpart, Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, "completed a comprehensive situational assessment on the readiness of the IDF for all scenarios," Israel's military said Friday. 

"The IDF is very strongly prepared, both offensively and defensively, against any threat," Halevi was quoted as saying in the statement. "The IDF continues to monitor closely what is happening in Iran and different arenas, constantly preparing to deal with existing and potential threats in coordination with the United States Armed Forces." 

The IDF said the visiting U.S. general, Central Command chief Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, was taking part in the IDF's situational assessment.

The dilemma for Iran, said Israeli expert Shine, is to figure out how to deliver its promised response to Israel's attack in Syria, but in a way that does not lead to further escalation. Likewise, Shine said Israel could choose to show restraint when it responds to whatever Iran eventually does.

If either side gets the balance wrong, the consequences for the region, and even the world, could be dire.

Weijia Jiang, David Martin, Margaret Brennan and Olivia Gazis contributed reporting.

• Middle East
• Benjamin Neta​nyahu

Debora Patta is a CBS News foreign correspondent based in Johannesburg. Since joining CBS News in 2013, she has reported on major stories across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Edward R. Murrow and Scripps Howard awards are among the many accolades Patta has received for her work.

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