Turkey’s 3-Million Target in Marine Tourism; New Records in Attracting Cruise Passengers
Davut Günaydın, Vice President of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), stated:
“The number of cruise ship passengers must directly reach three million. Currently, we are around two million, and I believe we will soon reach this goal.”
In the past decade, marine tourism has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global tourism industry. Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary halt in this field, a rapid recovery began in 2023 and significant growth has been regained.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the number of cruise passengers worldwide reached approximately 35 million in 2024. This sector, with an annual growth rate between 7% to 10%, is expected to reach between 38 to 40 million passengers in 2025.
With its unique geographical location connecting the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Seas, and acting as a gateway between Europe and Asia, Turkey has experienced significant growth in the cruise industry in recent years.
Over 500% Increase in Passengers in February
In February 2025, the number of cruise passengers arriving in Turkey increased by an impressive 509.3% compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching 29,826 people. In the same month, the number of cruise ships docking at Turkish ports rose by 220% to 16 vessels.
These figures were recorded as the highest ever for the month of February in Turkey’s cruise industry. A similar trend was observed in January, and in total, Turkey succeeded in attracting global attention in this sector during the first two months of the year.
New Infrastructure in Major Ports
Through joint efforts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, collaborations with international cruise operators have been developed, and Turkish ports have been integrated into new routes.
Ports such as Kuşadası, İstanbul, Antalya, İzmir, Trabzon, Sinop, and Çeşme have seen extensive infrastructure investments. The Galataport project in İstanbul is also recognized as the most modern cruise port in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Targeted Investment to Increase Capacity
Emphasizing that Turkey is seriously investing in the cruise industry, Günaydın said:
“Galataport is very impressive in terms of quality and capacity. In addition, ports like İzmir, Kuşadası, Bodrum, and even Amasra on the Black Sea are attracting cruise ships, which makes us happy.”
He added: “Turkish travel agencies are working hard by participating in specialized cruise exhibitions worldwide. We receive professional reports from them and hope that with the reduction of certain taxes, the upward trend will continue.”
Majority of Passengers from Europe and the US
Günaydın said: “If we can increase the number of cruise ships coming to the country to 300 to 400 per year, we will witness significant progress. Currently, we have reached the figure of two million, and our goal is to reach three million passengers.”
Referring to İstanbul’s high potential in marine tourism, he said: “The only downside in İstanbul is the urban traffic; however, we offer tourists attractive programs including local cuisine, the Grand Bazaar, and historical landmarks.”
Günaydın also added that cruise ships from Asia and Japan are coming to Turkey, and recently Middle Eastern countries have also entered this market. According to him:
“Most of the cruise passengers arriving in Turkey are from Europe and America.”
