Turkish Tourism Leaders Warn of Rising Outbound Spending

At the Tourism Investment Forum (TIF 2026) hosted by the Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TTYD), Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) President Şekib Avdagiç delivered a comprehensive evaluation of Turkey’s tourism economy, highlighting both its growth potential and emerging structural risks. While underlining Istanbul’s enduring global appeal, Avdagiç placed particular emphasis on the changing travel and spending habits of Turkish citizens, warning that rising outbound tourism expenditures are narrowing the sector’s net contribution to the national economy.

Istanbul’s Global Strength and Untapped Economic Potential

Avdagiç stressed that Istanbul, with its 8,500-year history, distinctive geography, and rich cultural heritage, remains a global tourism hub. Beyond its historical legacy, the city’s role in culture, finance, and the arts reinforces its status as a multidimensional destination capable of attracting diverse visitor profiles year-round.

However, Avdagiç argued that Istanbul has yet to fully translate this global appeal into higher economic returns. Compared with other major metropolitan destinations, hotel prices and per-visitor spending in Istanbul remain below their potential. According to him, this gap signals not a lack of demand, but the need for a strategic shift toward higher-value tourism models.

Tourism Revenues Increase, but the Gap Is Closing

One of the most critical points raised at the forum concerned the balance between tourism revenues and expenditures. Avdagiç noted that Turkey’s tourism revenues increased by approximately 3.5 billion dollars over the past year. At the same time, however, outbound tourism spending by Turkish citizens rose by nearly 2.4 billion dollars, significantly narrowing the difference between income and expenses.

This trend, he emphasized, persists despite strict visa requirements faced by Turkish travelers. The continued growth in overseas travel spending indicates strong and resilient demand among Turkish citizens for international tourism experiences, even under restrictive conditions.

Avdagiç translated his remarks as follows:
“We are clearly seeing an increase in the tendency of Turkish citizens to spend abroad. Despite these visa restrictions, there has been a rapid rise in tourism expenditures by Turkish citizens abroad. We need to accept this as a reality and develop policies that respond to the tourism-related demands, needs, and expectations of our own citizens. If we want to keep a larger share of Turkish tourism spending within the country, we must redesign our policies accordingly.”

This perspective reframes outbound tourism not merely as a matter of personal preference, but as a strategic economic challenge that requires coordinated domestic tourism policies.

Changing Consumption Patterns and the E-Commerce Dimension

Avdagiç also connected outbound tourism spending to broader shifts in consumption behavior, particularly cross-border online shopping. Referring to his earlier statements on Chinese-based e-commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein, he reiterated concerns that these purchases increasingly exceed personal consumption needs and pose risks to domestic markets.

In translated remarks from previous evaluations, Avdagiç stated:
“This is a serious risk. Even if, in theory, all of these purchases are considered personal needs, precautions remain necessary. The duty-free online shopping limit has been reduced to 30 euros, but we believe it should be reduced to zero.”

Istanbul Deserves More and Better Tourism Investment

Shifting focus back to investment strategies, Avdagiç argued that Istanbul does not merely need more hotels or rooms, but smarter and higher-quality investments. He emphasized that increasing capacity alone will not yield sustainable gains unless it is coupled with strategies that increase revenue per room and visitor spending.

According to Avdagiç, Istanbul should prioritize differentiated tourism products that encourage visitors to pay more for unique experiences. These include culture-led tourism, gastronomy, arts, luxury hospitality, and business-oriented travel. By doing so, the city can move away from volume-based competition and position itself more firmly among high-value global destinations.

A New Expansion to Strengthen Congress Tourism

Avdagiç also announced a major development aimed at boosting congress and convention tourism, a lucrative segment of the global tourism industry. He revealed that a new investment is underway at the Istanbul Expo Center in Yeşilköy, where 40,000 square meters will be added to the existing 100,000-square-meter facility.

As part of the project, a 7,000-square-meter column-free hall is being constructed, enabling Istanbul to host international congresses with 12,000 to 14,000 participants. Avdagiç emphasized that such events not only generate substantial tourism revenues but also enhance Istanbul’s global visibility and year-round tourism activity.

He noted that cooperation with relevant institutions is ongoing to strengthen Istanbul’s position in the global congress tourism market and to attract more high-profile international events.