Turkey strengthened its position among the world's leading destinations by continuing its growth in international tourism. According to the OECD's Tourism Trends and Policies 2026 report, Turkey increased its international visitor numbers by 21 percent in the 2019-2025 period, ranking fourth in this field, after Japan, Norway, and Denmark.

OECD announced that global tourism growth continues

According to the report, the number of international tourists visiting OECD countries increased by 3.4 percent in 2025, reaching a record level of 847 million. However, geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and climate-related risks continue to exert pressure on the sector.

Turkey maintains its growth despite crises

TÜRSAB President Firuz Bağlıkaya stated that tourism is one of the sectors most rapidly affected by global developments, and that Turkey has maintained its international competitiveness thanks to its strong crisis management.

"Turkey has a strong tourism ecosystem that has successfully managed many global and regional crises, all distinct from one another. The most important element behind this success is the crisis management experience gained over the years by our travel agencies and sector stakeholders operating directly in the field," he said.

Goal: Higher Added Value

Bağlıkaya emphasized that in the coming period, Turkey should focus not only on increasing visitor numbers but also on boosting tourism revenue and per capita spending. He stated that the development of alternative areas such as culture, gastronomy, health, congress, sports, cruise, and nature tourism would contribute both to extending tourism throughout the 12 months of the year and to generating higher income.

He also pointed out that cruise tourism and the strong international connections offered by Istanbul Airport are among the important factors increasing Turkey's competitive advantage. Image: © AI-generated illustration