Turkey is home to two of the top four tourist destinations in the world. The country is anticipated to see an increase in tourists in 2024 as a result of the recent relaxation of visa rules.
Travel is almost back to how it was before the outbreak. With almost 975 million people travelling overseas annually, the UN World Tourism Organisation reported in November 2023 that international tourism was on course to reach 90% of pre-pandemic levels. And Turkey is a common destination for a large number of those foreign visitors.
The Top 10 cities worldwide for foreign visitors were listed in Euromonitor International’s study, the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023, which was published in December. Unexpectedly, Istanbul and Antalya, two of the top four cities in the world for tourism, are located in Turkey.
The bulk of foreign visitors to Antalya are German, Russian, and British, and they have long been the city’s most devoted travel companions. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, once declared, “There is no doubt that Antalya is the most beautiful place in the world.” Antalya’s striking location atop a limestone plateau facing Roman walls and Ottoman-era homes has historically made it a beach destination due to its turquoise waters.
More visitors from all over the world are taking advantage of Antalya’s attractiveness as a result of a significant rise in flights that are accessible. As per the findings of the Euromonitor International research, the city experienced a 29% surge in foreign visitors in 2023 as opposed to 2022.
Antalya with its breathtaking scenery, intriguing history, waterfalls, mountains, beaches, and delectable food, it lives up to expectations. Tourists fall in love with Antalya because it offers more than just a vacation. However, tourists aren’t only going to Antalya and Istanbul. Turkey’s domestic and international aircraft landings increased 16.3% in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to data from the State Airports Authority Directorate General, and the country appears ready to welcome even more foreign tourists this year.
Turkey will no longer require visitors from the US, Canada, or Mexico to obtain an electronic visa for stays under 90 days starting in January 2024. The number of foreign tourists to Turkey is expected to rise further as a result of the recent relaxation of entry procedures; in 2023, foreign travel to Turkey increased by 10.4% to over 49 million individuals.
Turkey’s expanding medical tourism sector is another factor drawing tourists to the country. The Turkish Statistical Institute reports that, in 2022, 1.2 million people visited Turkey for medical purposes, a 308% rise from 2021. Turkey received an additional 746,290 medical tourists in just the first half of 2023. Due to the fact that many local dentists and all-inclusive dental tourism providers will also cover their patients’ travel expenses.
Locals, however, claim that tourists aren’t only drawn to Antalya and Istanbul in order to get more value for their money. They start to feel rejuvenated. According to tour guide Avni Coşar, Antalya “has a wide range of natural beauties, thousands-of-years-old historical ruins, action sports events, and health tourism.”
Source: BBC Travel
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