Türkiye Becomes World’s 4th Most Visited Country in 2024, Eyes $64 Billion in Tourism Revenue

In a significant leap for global tourism rankings, Türkiye became the world’s fourth most visited country in 2024, welcoming 56.7 million international tourists, according to UNWTO’s May 2025 World Tourism Barometer. The announcement, made by Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy on June 23, marks a pivotal shift as Türkiye surpassed Italy, rising from fifth place.

“This great success is the result of our effective promotion of our historical heritage and cultural richness, our strong infrastructure and our tourism diversity spanning four seasons,” said Minister Ersoy, underlining Türkiye’s expanding appeal on the global stage.

Record Revenues and Bold Ambitions for 2025

Last year, Türkiye generated a record $61.1 billion in tourism revenue, hosting more than 62 million visitors. With the latest momentum, the country now targets 65 million tourists and $64 billion in income for 2025.

The UNWTO ranking for 2024 places France, Spain, the U.S., Türkiye, and Italy in the top five, cementing Türkiye’s position among global tourism powerhouses.

May 2025 Figures Reflect Minor Setbacks Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Despite its strong annual performance, Türkiye’s tourism sector saw a 1% decline in foreign arrivals in the January–May 2025 period, totaling 15.63 million visitors. May alone registered a 1.8% year-on-year dip, with 5.04 million foreign arrivals, according to the Tourism Ministry.

The UNWTO emphasized in its May survey that global geopolitical and trade tensions continue to weigh on traveler confidence, a trend that is impacting Türkiye as regional volatility increases.

Tourist Flow from Iran and Israel Under Scrutiny

The tourism industry is closely watching the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, amid fears of declining tourist numbers from both countries.

Still, Iran ranked as Türkiye’s fourth-largest source market in the first five months of 2025, sending 1.18 million tourists. In 2024, 3.28 million Iranian visitors accounted for 5.2% of Türkiye’s total foreign arrivals.

Meanwhile, tourist flows from Israel increased 39% year-on-year in January–May 2025, reaching around 35,000 arrivals, following last year’s total of 770,000 Israeli visitors, most of whom traveled during summer.

Germany and Russia See a Drop in Visitor Numbers

Tourist arrivals from Germany and Russia, two of Türkiye’s top markets, saw modest declines. Between January and May:

• German arrivals fell 6% to 1.74 million

• Russian arrivals decreased 5.2% to 1.72 million

Despite these setbacks, Türkiye’s tourism 2024 momentum and diversified travel offerings continue to support its long-term growth trajectory.