In a recent interview, Kaan Kavaloğlu, president of the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (AKTOB), described the Turkish tourism industry’s 2023 performance as miraculous. Here’s a breakdown of the interview’s key points:
Challenges Faced in 2023:
– Tourism season started in June due to earthquakes and elections
– Minimal tourism activity in the first five months of the year
Remarkable Recoveries:
– Türkiye managed to offset losses from conflicts in key markets like Russia and Ukraine
– 1.15 million Polish tourists visited the country, marking Poland as a rising star for tourism in Türkiye
Outlook for 2024:
– Uncertainty around when the tourism season will begin
– Possibility of extended tourism season and year-round tourism
Tourism Stats for 2023:
– 10.8% increase in foreign tourist arrivals in January-November, reaching 46.7 million
– 8.6% increase in European tourists visiting Türkiye, totaling 23.6 million
Future Projections:
– Türkiye aims to increase tourism revenues to $64.7 billion in 2025 and $71.3 billion in 2026
Turkish tourism industry shows impressive growth and resilience in the face of challenges.
