Historical Record for the Number of Cruise Ship Passengers in February
The Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, announced that the number of passengers arriving in Turkey via cruise ships in February increased by 509.3% compared to the same period last year, reaching 29,826 passengers. Highlighting this significant growth, he stated: "During this period, we reached the highest number of cruise passengers in February in history."
Significant Increase in the Number of Cruise Ships
Minister Uraloğlu, in an official statement, referred to the maritime travel statistics for February and stated that the number of cruise ships entering Turkish ports this month increased by 220% compared to last year.
According to the report, in February 2025, the distribution of passengers at various Turkish ports was as follows:
- Kuşadası Port: 7 cruise ships, 10,656 passengers
- Istanbul Ports: 4 cruise ships, 9,743 passengers
- Izmir Alsancak Port: 4 cruise ships, 8,484 passengers
- Antalya Port (Port Akdeniz): 1 cruise ship, 943 passengers
Consecutive Records in Two Successive Months
Minister Uraloğlu, referring to a new record set in January 2025, added: "In February, with 509.3% growth, the number of passengers reached 29,826, which is the highest figure for this month. Achieving two consecutive records in this industry demonstrates Turkey’s strong position in maritime tourism."
Istanbul: The Most Visited Port for Cruise Ships
In the first two months of 2025, a total of 39 cruise ships entered Turkish ports, bringing 62,512 passengers. Among them, Istanbul’s ports hosted the highest number of passengers and ships:
- Istanbul Ports: 12 cruise ships, 24,257 passengers
- Izmir Alsancak Port: 8 cruise ships, 16,485 passengers
- Kuşadası Port: 8 cruise ships, 11,559 passengers
Turkey’s Growing Popularity in Cruise Tourism
Minister Uraloğlu emphasized Turkey’s historical and cultural significance, stating that the country has become one of the top destinations for cruise tourism worldwide. He added:
"The opening of Galataport and the removal of COVID-19 restrictions have made Turkey one of the key destinations for cruise ships globally."
According to the presented statistics, in 2024, a total of 1,195 cruise ships arrived at Turkish ports, bringing 1,889,426 passengers. This was the highest number of passengers recorded since 2015. Uraloğlu predicted that in 2025, this number will exceed 2 million passengers, setting a new record.
