Türkiye’s tourism revenue reaches $25.7B despite decline in visitors
14:08, 31/07/2026, FridayU: Update: 14:08, 31/07/2026, Friday
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Türkiye generated $25.75 billion in tourism revenue during the first half of 2026, with higher per-visitor spending helping offset a decline in arrivals. Official figures showed visitor numbers eased year-on-year, while average expenditures and overnight spending increased, underscoring the resilience of the country's tourism sector.
Türkiye's tourism industry generated $25.75 billion in revenue during the January-June period of 2026, supported by stronger visitor spending despite a decline in the number of international travelers. Data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) showed tourism income slipped only 0.1% from a year earlier, while total visitor arrivals fell 2.7% to 24.84 million. Average spending per visitor increased to $1,020, with average overnight expenditure climbing to $108.
Second-quarter performance
Between April and June, tourism revenue totaled $15.87 billion, marking a 2.6% annual decline. Of that amount, visitors generated $15.66 billion, while transfer passengers contributed $209.5 million. Turkish citizens residing abroad accounted for 15.6% of visitor-related tourism income during the quarter.
Individual travelers spent $10.93 billion, whereas package tour expenditures reached $4.72 billion. The number of departing visitors fell 5.1% year-on-year to 15.58 million, including nearly 2.53 million Turkish citizens living abroad.
Visitor spending remains resilient
Although visitor numbers softened, spending indicators continued to improve. Average expenditure per departing visitor rose 2.5% to $1,005 in the second quarter, while average spending per night increased 2.8% to $113.
Package holidays represented the largest share of tourism income at 30.2%, followed by food and beverage spending (21%), international transportation (12.4%) and accommodation (11.3%). Compared with the same period last year, accommodation revenue increased 11.7%, while food and beverage spending advanced 5.2%. In contrast, package tour expenditures declined 5.5%, and international transport spending fell 6.1%.
Travel trends
Leisure travel remained the primary reason for visiting Türkiye, accounting for 71.3% of all trips during the second quarter. Visits to relatives and friends represented 16.6% of arrivals, while shopping-related travel made up 6%. The latest figures indicate that although international arrivals moderated, rising visitor expenditure continued to support Türkiye's tourism industry and overall tourism revenue.