Türkiye recorded 60.6 million international tourist arrivals and more than USD 56.3 billion in tourism receipts, strengthening its position as a leading year-round destination
Türkiye has strengthened its position among the world’s leading tourism destinations, ranking fourth globally for international tourist arrivals with 60.6 million visitors, according to the 2026 Most Visited Countries ranking published by World Population Review using UN Tourism data.
Türkiye ranked behind France with 102 million international visitors, Spain with 93.8 million and the United States with 73.4 million. It moved ahead of Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Greece in the global visitor rankings.
The ranking highlights Türkiye’s growing importance in international tourism, supported by its combination of cultural heritage, gastronomy, coastal destinations, natural attractions and tourism products that can be experienced throughout the year.
Strong tourism receipts
Türkiye also generated USD 56.28 billion in international tourism receipts, placing it among the world’s leading tourism economies.
The figure reflects Türkiye’s strong performance across a broad range of tourism segments, while the country continues to pursue policies aimed at increasing visitor numbers, extending stays and distributing tourism activity across more destinations and seasons.
Official investment data notes that Türkiye welcomed 62.3 million visitors in 2024, including citizens resident abroad, while tourism revenues reached a record USD 61.1 billion.
More recent OECD data shows that Türkiye’s tourism performance continued to strengthen in 2025, when the country recorded 64 million international visitors and USD 65.2 billion in tourism revenue.
Expanding beyond traditional beach tourism
Türkiye’s tourism strategy increasingly focuses on diversifying the country’s product portfolio and reducing dependence on peak summer travel.
Alongside its established sea, sand and sun offering, the country is promoting cultural, gastronomic, religious, cycling, sports, cruise and MICE tourism, while encouraging travellers to explore destinations beyond established tourism centres.
Its extensive archaeological and cultural heritage is also central to this strategy. The Legacy for the Future programme has expanded archaeological excavations and restoration activity across the country, supporting efforts to bring more heritage sites and museums into the tourism circuit.
Türkiye has also expanded its Night Museums initiative, allowing selected museums and archaeological sites to remain accessible after conventional visiting hours. The programme is designed to extend visitor experiences while offering greater flexibility during the warmer months.
Heritage and sustainability remain key priorities
The country’s cultural tourism strategy places strong emphasis on archaeological preservation, restoration and the international promotion of its heritage assets.
Türkiye recorded 765 archaeological projects in 2024 under its wider archaeological programme and has continued efforts to recover cultural objects taken out of the country. Its tourism infrastructure also includes a large network of UNESCO-listed heritage sites and museums.
The country has simultaneously maintained a strong position in sustainable coastal tourism. Türkiye ranked third globally with 577 Blue Flag beaches in 2024, according to investment promotion data.
Focus on year-round and regional tourism
A major element of Türkiye’s tourism strategy is the effort to spread visitor activity across all 81 provinces and throughout the year.
While Istanbul and the Mediterranean resort region remain major international draws, the development of cultural routes, archaeological attractions, gastronomy experiences and nature-based activities is helping introduce travellers to a wider range of destinations.
This approach is also intended to reduce seasonality and create a more geographically balanced tourism economy, while strengthening opportunities for local communities and businesses.
Türkiye’s rise to fourth place in global international arrivals underscores the scale of its tourism recovery and expansion. With a diversified product mix, extensive cultural heritage and an increasingly year-round tourism proposition, the country continues to position itself as a major destination for international travellers.
