2024 has been a groundbreaking year for Turkiye’s tourism industry, marking its most successful year yet.
The country welcomed a record 62.2 million tourists, including over 135,000 from Pakistan.
With these arrivals, Turkiye generated an impressive $61.1 billion in revenue from tourism-related activities, reflecting an 8.3% increase from the previous year.
The surge in tourist numbers represents a 9.8% rise from 2023, and a 20.3% jump compared to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
Popular markets, including Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, continue to dominate, but the country has also seen significant growth in emerging markets like the US and China.
Tourists from the US increased by 8.1%, while the number from China shot up by a staggering 65.1%.
In addition to the impressive economic benefits, tourists are also staying longer, with the average visitor spending 10.7 days in the country and contributing $972 per person to the economy.
Turkiye’s success has not gone unnoticed globally, with the United Nations’ World Tourism Organization recognizing the country as one of the top five global destinations in 2023.
Moreover, many Pakistani tourists participated in the world-renowned Istanbul Marathon, held in November.
The race, which spans across two continents, saw 7,500 runners, including Pakistani athlete Amjad Ali, who finished in 47th place after completing the 42 km race in 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 29 seconds.
Turkey continues to shine as a leading global tourism hub.
