It was determined that two of the four most visited cities in the world are in Turkiye. With the recent removal of visa requirements, the country is expected to host more tourists in 2024. That being the case, the BBC asked: Why is everyone going to Turkiye?
The United Nations World Tourism Organization stated in November 2023 that international travel was on track to reach 90% of pre-pandemic levels, with approximately 975 million people going abroad during the year.
COMMON TRAVEL DESTINATION: TURKIYE
According to the news in the UK-based broadcaster BBC, most of these international travelers have one common destination in mind: Turkiye.
THE TWO CITIES THAT ARE MOST VISITED BY TOURISTS IN TURKIYE
In December, Euromonitor International published its own report, “Top 100 City Destination Index 2023,” which details the top 10 cities worldwide in terms of international arrivals. It turned out that two of the four most visited cities in the world are in Turkiye. So which are these cities: Istanbul and Antalya.
LONDON FOLLOWS ISTANBUL AND DUBAI FOLLOWS LONDON IN GROWTH
In the report the following was stated, “Istanbul ranks first in the number of international arrivals in 2023, with a 26% growth compared to the previous year, followed by London in second place (with a 17% increase) and Dubai in third place (with an 18% increase).”
THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS COMING TO ANTALYA EXCEEDED PARIS
The following statements were included in the BBC news:
Considering that Istanbul is a city with a population of 15.5 million (the largest in Europe), this is not a big surprise. However, what is intriguing is how Antalya, a city that hosts 1.3 million people, managed to host 16.5 million international visitors. More than Paris (population: 2.1 million), Hong Kong (7.4 million), Bangkok (11 million).
Antalya has long been a popular travel destination for Germans, Russians and Brits. Its turquoise waters, mild winters, hot summers and sunshine have historically made it a beach destination. The plateau overlooking Roman walls and houses from the Ottoman period was home to the country’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
29% INCREASE IN FLIGHTS TO ANTALYA
Thanks to the huge increase in flights, more people from around the world are experiencing the beauty of Antalya. According to the Euromonitor International report, there was a 29% increase in the number of international visitors of the city in 2023 compared to 2022.
However, travelers do not only go to Istanbul and Antalya. According to the data of the General Directorate of State Airports Authority, domestic and international flights across Turkiye increased by 16.3% in 2023 compared to the previous year, and the country seems ready to host more international visitors this year.
THE NUMBER OF VISITORS WILL INCREASE IN 2024
In January 2024, Turkiye eliminated the requirement for American, Canadian and Mexican travelers to obtain an e-visa for visits lasting less than 90 days. The recent relaxation of entry conditions will increase the number of international travelers to Turkiye, which will increase by 10.4% to over 49 million in 2023. Turkiye also remains a relatively affordable place to visit for Americans, with the cost of living estimated to be 54% lower than in the United States, according to the BBC.
TURKISH MEDICAL TOURISM ALSO ATTRACTS VISITORS
Another thing that attracts visitors to Turkiye is the growing medical tourism industry. According to the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute, approximately 1.2 million people came to Turkiye for medical tourism in 2022; This number increased by 308% compared to 2021. An additional 746,290 medical tourists visited Turkiye in the first half of 2023 alone. Antalya is becoming a particularly popular spot for dental tourism; Many local dentists and all-inclusive dental tourism operators also offer to cover patients’ travel and accommodation expenses.
Source: Patronlardunyasi / Prepared by Irem Yildiz