Turkey stands out as a unique destination that attracts millions of tourists every year. According to Statista’s data from 2019 to 2023, Istanbul tops the list of Turkey’s most preferred destinations in terms of international tourist arrivals each year.
The number of visitors to the city exceeded 17 million in 2023, showing a threefold increase compared to 2020 and surpassing pre-pandemic figures. This remarkable increase clearly shows how much Istanbul’s historical and cultural riches, cosmopolitan atmosphere, and straits connecting Europe and Asia attract tourists.
Antalya, on the other hand, was the second leading tourism center with approximately 14.8 million visitors in 2023.
However, while Turkey is achieving great success in international tourism, it is experiencing a decline in domestic tourism. Factors such as high inflation, price increases, and rising living costs in the country have also affected domestic tourism. In 2023, the number of domestic flights was approximately 22% lower than the peak figures in 2018. As a result, the number of nights stayed by domestic travelers has generally followed a negative trend in the last few years.
Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/921506/leading-destinations-of-arriving-visitors-in-turkey/