Turkiye has emerged as a top holiday and wedding destination for Indian visitors over recent years. According to the latest reports, the country has broken all previous inbound travel records from India this year as it saw an increase of 88.03% in travellers until April 2023 alone. The two most visited cities this year that left tourists mesmerised with their scenic beauty were, Istanbul and Nevsehir. The country has emerged as an ideal destination for the FIT and MICE segments amongst Indian travellers, leading to an uptick in the number of Indians visiting Turkiye, this year.
Having a lot to offer in terms of beautiful historical landmarks, rich local cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and exuberant art and music, Turkiye expects to host an even higher number of Indian visitors by the end of 2023 as the wedding season approaches. With many Indian couples choosing to get married in the country’s scenic destinations, Turkiye is expected to host a significant number of Indian weddings this year. Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum and Cappadocia are amongst the most preferred cities by Indian couples to host their destination weddings. Moreover, the upcoming festive and holiday seasons combined will also add up to the number of Indian travellers visiting the country as most of them prefer taking leisure vacations around the end of the year.
Turkiye ranks as the fourth most popular destination for tourists worldwide after hosting 51.4 Million international visitors in 2022. The country aims to surpass all the previous records by hosting a significantly higher number of Indian and international visitors in 2023.
Most visited destinations by international tourist arrivals
In 2022 there were 963 million international tourists, with a growth of 111% compared to 2021 but a drop of -34.3% compared to 2019. The top 10 international tourism destinations in 2022 were:
