Recent data shared by the Culture and Tourism Ministry shows that the number of foreign tourists visiting Turkey has increased by 308.48% this May compared to May in 2021. The Ministry stated that a total of 3,824,555 visited in May. The top provinces tourists visited in May where Istanbul, Antalya, Mugla, Edirne and Artvin.
Between January and May 2022 the number of foreign tourists visiting Turkey increased by 207.1%. Records show that between January and May there was a total of 11.3 million tourists in Turkey.
A chairperson of a tourist board stated how people booking early were very lucky when compared to those booking in June as the prices are 30% more expensive. He also said that “The tourism season got off to a rousing start, both in the domestic and international markets.”
Within the first five months of the year the most tourists to come to Turkey came from Germany, Bulgaria and Russia. There was a 367.24% increase in German tourists, a 334.88% increase in tourists from Bulgaria and a 49.40% increase in Russian tourists compared to the previous year.
Alternatives are being looked into by the local tourism sector for the Russian and CIS markets which have always accounted for most of Turkey’s tourism, but due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict they have contracted. Hotels in Turkey which cater for the Russian market are going to try to offset the Russian and the Ukranian tourist deficit with domestic and European markets. A statement made from an expert stated how important the domestic market is and how it can be an alternative in the Russian and CIS market contraction and that the domestic market will set a new record.
