Turkiye’s tourism income target is aimed to be $100 billion in 2028 and the number of visitors to be 82.3 million.
The 12th Development Plan (2024-2028) was presented to the Turkish Grand National Assembly after the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The main aim was to diversify and develop tourism in line with changing consumer trends, extend the season period, increase service quality and increase tourism income per visitor by attracting visitors with more spending tendencies to the country and realize green and digital transformation in the sector.
In this context, promotional activities will be carried out in countries with high tourist potential, especially in America and the Far East, in order to create new markets.
Within the scope of the plan, according to the 2022 data of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, tourism income, which is $46.5 billion, is aimed to be $55.6 billion by the end of 2023 and $100 billion in 2028.
The number of visitors is aimed to be 82.3 million
While the number of visitors is aimed to be 82.3 million in 2028, it is estimated that the average expenditure per visitor will be $1215, the average stay duration will be 9.4 nights, and the nightly income per visitor will be $129.
The adaptation capacity of the tourism sector to climate change will be increased. It will be ensured that the tourism sector adopts an approach that protects and improves the natural, historical and social environment within the framework of sustainability principles, and the green transformation in the sector will be accelerated.
Work will be carried out to ensure green transformation
The negative effects of tourism activities on the environment will be minimized by taking into account water and waste management and energy efficiency.
Within the scope of the “Sustainable Tourism Program”, studies will be carried out to ensure green transformation in tourism.
Effective management of protected areas will be carried out through planning and practices aimed at ensuring the protection and sustainable use of the ecosystem.
An inclusive tourism sector will be created by supporting local economies. In order to minimize the negative effects that tourism may have on the environment, social and cultural fabric, awareness-raising activities will be carried out to ensure that visitors have a “responsible tourism understanding”.
Training programs will be developed and maintained to meet the need for qualified intermediate staff
Effective use of digital technologies will be ensured in the tourism sector, and the “seamless end-to-end travel” approach will be introduced to the sector by connecting all stakeholders in the tourism value chain digitally.
Applied training programs will be developed and continued to meet the need for qualified intermediate staff in the tourism sector. Vocational education curriculum will be rearranged in line with the needs of the sector.
In order to increase service quality and tourist satisfaction, legislation will be made to improve physical conditions in tourism facilities and inspection activities will be increased.
Tourism types that generate more income will be developed
In order to increase tourism income per visitor, tourism types that generate more income will be developed.
Legislative studies will be carried out to support investments and management aimed at diversifying tourism products. Master plan and strategy studies will be carried out to ensure the planned development of tourism types.
By developing cultural and tourism routes, visitor stay duration and expenses will be increased.
Promotional activities will be carried out in order to increase tourism income, strengthen existing markets, create new markets and reach visitors with high spending tendencies.
Efforts will be made to attract tourists from America and Far Eastern countries
A tourism decision support platform will be created by using digital tools to collect, analyze and report data regarding the tourism sector.
Measurement tools suitable for the international statistical framework created to measure the sustainability of tourism will be developed and new data sets will be created.
Tourism satellite accounts study, which takes into account the economic effects of tourism in terms of supply and demand, will be completed.
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz