By 2028, Turkey hopes to reach 2,000 Cruise Ship arrivals annually. A senior official stated on Sunday highlighting the significance of the tourism and transportation industries for the nation’s economy.
According to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, the number of cruise ships arriving in Turkish Ports reached 1,375 by the end of last year and is predicted to increase to 1,500 by the end of 2026, 1,750 next year, and 2,000 by 2028.
The General Directorate of Maritime Affairs’ cruise statistics and the industry’s goals were discussed by the minister with Anadolu Agency (AA).
Uraloğlu noted that Turkey is one of the major cruise tourism destinations and stated that they are still working to optimize our nation’s tourism potential by enhancing commerce and infrastructure.
He emphasized that tourism and transportation are two essential, complimentary industries for the nation’s economic and social development and that ports are vital for promoting cultural and tourism assets internationally.
Uraloğlu reiterated the expectations to entertain about 2,000 cruisers by 2028, emphasizing that the number of cruise ships visiting Turkish ports keeps growing annually. He also considered the top ports, pointing out that the ports of Bodrum, Istanbul, and Kuşadası are where the most cruise ships dock.
“Last year, Kuşadası Port hosted the highest number of cruise ships with 617 visits. It was followed by Istanbul’s Ports with 265 ships and Bodrum Port with 116 ships,” he said.
“The ranking for passenger numbers was the same. During that period, Kuşadası Port welcomed 995,843 cruise passengers, followed by Istanbul Ports with 625,517 passengers and Bodrum Port with 138,166 passengers,” he added.
In addition, he also pointed out that Türkiye has risen from being just “a stopover point” to “a main destination in cruise tourism. “Every guest arriving by cruise generates significant economic activity in the city, from dining and shopping to cultural visits, directly benefiting local economies,” the minister noted.
“Our goal is to become one of the most important centers of cruise tourism in the Mediterranean. In line with this, we are improving service quality through coordinated efforts under the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs and working closely with our sector stakeholders,” he concluded.
Source: Daily Sabah
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