The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), Firuz Bağlıkaya, announced that the tourism sector aimed for a revenue of 65 billion dollars this year. He emphasized that Turkey was among the leading countries in the world in tourism, and the sector was committed to ensuring the sustainability of this success by fulfilling its responsibilities alongside all stakeholders.
Ramadan Holiday and Tourism Season
Bağlıkaya mentioned that the tourism season would begin earlier this year due to the Ramadan holiday, with an expected boost in domestic tourism, as the second term school break coincides with this period. He also stated that international tourism activities would begin in April and that expectations were high across all markets.
Turkey’s Tourism Success and Goals
Bağlıkaya noted that global tourist numbers and tourism revenues were rising, and Turkey was experiencing a similar increase. He emphasized that Turkey continued its efforts to maintain its image as a safe tourism destination. The main tourism markets for Turkey include Germany, Russia, and the UK, and Bağlıkaya indicated that they are working hard to strengthen ties with these markets. Additionally, he pointed out that they expected a significant influx of tourists from Central European countries, and tourism remained an indispensable sector for Turkey in terms of foreign currency, employment, and promotion.
2025 Goals and Revenue Growth
Bağlıkaya reiterated that the goal was to achieve record tourism revenue in 2025. He stated that they aimed for a 10% increase in tourism revenue this year compared to the previous year. After closing 2023 with 60 billion dollars in tourism revenue, the target for 2024 is to reach 65 billion dollars. He emphasized that the entire sector would work diligently to achieve this goal.
Tourism Diversity and New Trends
Bağlıkaya explained that tourists no longer settled for the traditional beach vacation. Instead, they seeked experiences in gastronomy, culture, religion, and health tourism. TÜRSAB is closely following these trends and working to enhance Turkey’s tourism diversity. He also highlighted the importance of discovering new destinations in Anatolia and promoting them, as well as making Turkey a year-round tourism destination through the “Tourism Century Project.”
New Projects in Northern Cyprus (KKTC)
Bağlıkaya also discussed new projects related to Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic (KKTC). He mentioned that projects like the “Ada Cyprus” project aimed to diversify tourism in KKTC and make the region an important family vacation destination. TÜRSAB plans to carry out a program with 250 travel agencies to promote KKTC.
Gastronomy Tourism and Travel Agencies
Bağlıkaya pointed out that Turkey had made significant strides in unlocking its gastronomic potential, especially in cities like Mardin and Gaziantep. He also emphasized the critical role of travel agencies in tourism, especially in sectors like health and gastronomy tourism, where agencies organized tours, essential for the growth of these sectors. He noted that 85% of tourists visiting Turkey came through organized tours.
Overall Evaluation
Bağlıkaya concluded by affirming that the tourism sector would continue to contribute to Turkey’s development and prosperity. He expressed confidence that 2024 would be another successful year for tourism and that all stakeholders would work together to further advance this success.
