Number Of Tourists Arriving In Istanbul Increased By %66

The number of tourists visiting Istanbul last year has been announced. According to data from the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, while 10 million 474 thousand 867 foreign tourists visited the city in 2013, the number was recorded as 17 million 370 thousand 30 last year. Thus, the number of tourists visiting the city increased by 66 percent in the last 10 years.

Istanbul received 11 million 842 thousand 983 foreign tourists in 2014, 12 million 414 thousand 677 in 2015, 9 million 203 thousand 987 in 2016, 10 million 840 thousand 595 in 2017, 13 million 432 thousand 990 in 2018, 14 million 906 thousand 663 in 2019, 5 million 1981 in 2020, 9 million 25 thousand 4 in 2021 and 16 million 18 thousand 726 in 2022.

“Istanbul Is One Of The Most Attractive Destinations For World Tourism”

Firuz Bağlıkaya, President of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), told AA correspondent that Istanbul is one of the most attractive destinations in the world in terms of tourism with its uniquely rich historical and cultural heritage, vibrant commercial life, lively city life and gastronomy.

Stating that its richness increases the number of tourists coming to the city every year, Bağlıkaya said that this situation is pleasing. Pointing out that the number of tourists in 2023 is approaching 17.5 million, Bağlıkaya said, “Compared to the previous year, the number of tourists coming to Istanbul increased by approximately 8.5 percent. Closing 2023 with an increase is a very important development for the sector.”

Firuz Bağlıkaya noted that thanks to Istanbul and Sabiha Gökçen airports, the city is a very important connection point for international tourism movements and is in a trend with increasing brand value.

“Istanbul’s Rise In Tourism Is Not Accidental”

Emphasizing that Istanbul has a very high tourism potential according to all factors, Bağlıkaya continued as follows:

“Therefore, Istanbul’s rise in tourism is not accidental at all. With this capacity, Istanbul will continue to attract even more visitors in the coming years. As the tourism sector, we were satisfied with 2023 and we are more hopeful for 2024. In 2024, the sector will continue to provide strong support to the country’s economy by raising its targets even higher. We expect the number of tourists in Istanbul to increase even more in 2024. The 66 percent increase in the last 10 years shows us this situation.”

Explaining that TÜRSAB continues to work for the development of Istanbul tourism, Bağlıkaya said that they tried to attract the tourism volume in the Balkan countries to the city with the Istanbul Balkan Tourism Exchange, which they organized for the first time in 2023.

Stating that they promoted Istanbul in all the events they participated in, especially ITB Berlin and WTM London fairs, which are among the most important fairs of the world, Bağlıkaya noted that they will continue to work with all travel agencies to promote the city and increase the tourism potential of the city.