According to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of visitors to Türkiye increased by 2.68% in 2025, reaching 63.9 million. A 7.92% rise in the number of foreign tourists in December drew particular attention.
Number of Visitors to Türkiye Increased in 2025
According to official data released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the total number of visitors to Türkiye in 2025 was recorded at 63 million 941 thousand, representing a 2.68% increase compared to the previous year. Data covering the January–December period point to limited growth throughout the year, while the rise seen in the final month strengthened expectations for the sector.
Number of Foreign Tourists Exceeded 52.7 Million
Throughout 2025, the number of foreign tourists visiting Türkiye increased by 0.26% to 52 million 775 thousand. During the same period, the number of Turkish citizens residing abroad was recorded at 11 million 166 thousand. As a result, overseas markets continued to play a decisive role in total visitor numbers.
Strong Recovery in December Drew Attention
Data for the final month of the year indicated a marked recovery in the tourism sector. In December 2025, the number of foreign visitors to Türkiye rose by 7.92% to 3 million 667 thousand. Experts note that, despite the limited increase over the year as a whole, this momentum in December shows that the sector closed the year on a strong note.
Countries Sending the Most Visitors in December
In December, the countries sending the highest number of visitors to Türkiye were:
- Bulgaria: 278 thousand
- Germany: 265 thousand
- Iran: 254 thousand
- Russia: 225 thousand
- Georgia: 106 thousand
These countries ranked in the top five.
Russia and Germany at the Top for the Year as a Whole
When 2025 is assessed in full, the Russian Federation was the country sending the most tourists to Türkiye, with 6 million 904 thousand visitors. Germany ranked second with 6 million 745 thousand visitors, followed by the United Kingdom with 4 million 270 thousand, Iran with 3 million 50 thousand, and Bulgaria with 2 million 808 thousand, which were among the other prominent source markets.
Promising Signals for 2026
The published data reveal that the increase in visitor numbers in 2025 remained limited, but recovery signals strengthened towards the end of the year. Sector representatives assess that the rise seen especially in December supports expectations for 2026 and that renewed momentum may be achieved in certain source markets.
