Türkiye Sees 8% Rise in April Tourist Arrivals, Led by Germans and Russians

Türkiye welcomed over 3.9 million foreign tourists in April 2025, marking an 8.01% year-over-year increase, according to provisional figures released Friday by the Culture and Tourism Ministry. The data, sourced from the General Directorate of Security, underscores a strong rebound in international travel interest, with Istanbul once again topping the list as the most visited province.

Germany and Russia Top Visitor List

Germany led the influx with 571,042 arrivals, representing a 31.3% increase compared to April 2024. Russia followed with 375,820 visitors, while the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and Iran rounded out the top five source countries.

• Germany: 14.64% share of total arrivals in April

• Russia: 9.64%

• United Kingdom: 9.59%

These five nations remain Türkiye’s most reliable tourist markets, with Germany taking a clear lead both in April and in cumulative figures for the year to date.

January–April: Slight Dip in Overall Arrivals

Despite the April boost, foreign arrivals from January through April 2025 dipped slightly, down 0.6% year-over-year to 10.59 million. However, when visitors of Turkish descent residing abroad are included, the total rises to 12.74 million.

Top visitor countries in the first four months:

• Germany: 1.14 million

• Russia: 977,152

• Iran: 946,472

• Bulgaria and the United Kingdom followed closely behind.

Sector Vital to National Economy

In 2024, Türkiye hosted 52.6 million foreign visitors, generating $61.1 billion in tourism revenues, up nearly 7% from the previous year. The tourism and hospitality sector remains one of the cornerstones of Türkiye’s economy, contributing significantly to national GDP and employment.

With renewed growth in April and continued interest from major European and regional markets, Türkiye appears poised to sustain strong tourism performance throughout 2025.