President Erdoğan, during the opening of the Rixos Tersane Hotel in Istanbul, reiterated Turkey’s goal of becoming a global brand in tourism. He emphasized that the number of tourists visiting Turkey had risen from 13 million in 2002 to 56.7 million by the end of 2023, making tourism a driving force of the Turkish economy.
Erdoğan noted that the hotel would greatly contribute to Istanbul’s cultural and congress tourism and praised Rixos hotels for playing a significant role in promoting Turkey internationally. Highlighting that tourism is considered a strategic sector, Erdoğan pointed out that Turkey has expanded beyond the traditional “sea, sun, and sand” tourism to include history, culture, faith, and health tourism. He also projected that Turkey’s tourism revenues for 2023 would reach $56 billion, with a target of 60 million tourists and $60 billion in revenue by the end of the year.
Erdoğan stressed the importance of spreading tourism activities throughout the year and maximizing the country’s diverse tourism potential, stating that Turkey has made significant leaps in this area. He also mentioned that improvements in Turkey’s transportation infrastructure, including airport expansions and high-speed rail networks, have greatly facilitated tourist access across the country.
PROMOTION FOR TURKEY’S GASTRONOMIC CULTURE
Drawing attention to the increase in cruise passengers arriving at Galataport Istanbul, Erdoğan underscored the need for greater international promotion of Turkey’s rich gastronomic culture and recalled Istanbul’s inclusion in the Michelin Guide in 2022. He concluded by affirming that efforts would continue until Turkey becomes a global tourism brand.
