Turkey's 65 Billion Dollar Target from Tourism Revenues

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), Firuz Bağlıkaya, announced that the country is aiming to achieve 65 billion dollars in tourism revenue this year.

In recent years, Turkey has ranked among the top countries in the world in tourism, both in terms of the number of tourists and revenue generated. Travel agencies, which play a significant role in boosting this sector, believe that this year's revenues will also reach the targeted figures.

Early Start to the Tourism Season with Eid al-Fitr Holidays

Bağlıkaya emphasized Turkey's special position among the world's top tourism destinations, saying: "We are ready to fulfill our responsibilities in the tourism industry to maintain and sustain this success."

He added: "With the Eid al-Fitr holidays, this year's tourism season in Turkey will start earlier than usual. Simultaneously, with the start of the mid-term school holidays, a good opportunity for domestic travel will arise. International tourism activities will also begin in April. Overall, we do not have low expectations in any market, and an upward trend continues across all sectors."

Global Growth in Tourism and Focus on Destination Safety

Bağlıkaya, referring to the global growth in tourist numbers and industry revenues, added: "We are also witnessing a similar trend in Turkey, and we are doing our utmost to maintain our country’s image as a safe and reliable tourist destination."

New Records in 2025

He pointed out that Turkey's main tourism markets include Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom, saying: "We are working hard to maintain and develop our strong relations with these markets."

Bağlıkaya also emphasized the special importance of Central European countries in the field of cultural and historical tourism, adding: "We expect a significant flow of tourists from these regions."

"In which other sector is Turkey the fourth in the world? Tourism is a key industry for our country in terms of foreign exchange inflows, employment generation, and international promotion, and we will continue to break records in 2025."

He continued: "This success is the result of the tireless efforts of all industry stakeholders."

Targeting 65 Billion Dollars for This Year

Bağlıkaya, referring to the plan to increase tourism revenues by 10%, said: "According to the ministry's expectations, we aim to raise revenues from 60 billion dollars last year to 65 billion dollars this year, and we will work with all our strength to achieve this goal."

Changes in Tourist Preferences

The TÜRSAB President also stated: "Today, tourists are no longer satisfied with just the sun, sea, and sand. They seek more diverse experiences such as gastronomy, cultural, religious, and health tourism. We, at TÜRSAB, are working to follow these trends and enhance Turkey’s tourism diversity."

Increasing the Diversity of Turkey's Tourism Destinations

Bağlıkaya, referring to TÜRSAB’s plans to discover new destinations and better promote current regions, said: "We especially aim to introduce the lesser-known areas of Anatolia to tourists."

He added: "The 'Tourism Century' project is ongoing to expand tourism throughout the year and across all 81 provinces of the country, and we are working closely with universities and municipalities in this path."

New Projects in Northern Cyprus

At the end, Bağlıkaya mentioned a new project in Northern Cyprus, saying: "With projects like 'Island Cyprus,' we aim to diversify tourism. Currently, Northern Cyprus is known for limited products, but it can become an ideal family vacation destination. In this regard, we will implement a program with the participation of 250 travel agencies to promote this region."

Ability to Compete in All Fields

Bağlıkaya also highlighted Turkey's significant potential in gastronomy tourism, saying: "In cities like Mardin and Gaziantep, there are exceptional destinations for food lovers. Today, travelers do not travel for just one purpose; they tend to combine their trip with various experiences."

He added: "Turkey has such a diversity of tourism products that it can compete in all areas."

The Key Role of Travel Agencies

The TÜRSAB President emphasized the crucial role of travel agencies in the tourism industry, saying:

"Tourists cannot access all services without travel agencies. More than 85% of tourists coming to Turkey arrive through organized tours and tour operators."

In conclusion, he stated: "As the tourism sector, we will continue to contribute to the development and welfare of our country, and we are confident that with the cooperation of all industry players, we will have a successful year ahead."