According to the data announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), tourism revenues in the fourth quarter of 2023, which includes the months of October, November, and December, increased by 6.8% compared to the same quarter of the previous year, reaching 12 billion 272 million dollars. 15.2% of the tourism revenue was generated from foreign residents visiting our country.
Visitors organize their trips either individually or through package tours. In this quarter, personal expenditures constituted 9 billion 47 million 94 thousand dollars, while package tour expenditures amounted to 3 billion 225 million dollars.
In 2023, a revenue of 54.3 billion dollars was generated from tourism
The tourism revenue in 2023 increased by 16.9% compared to the previous year, amounting to 54 billion 315 million dollars. Of this year's revenue, 41 billion 61 million dollars were from personal expenditures, while 13 billion 254 million dollars were from package tour expenditures.
The number of visitors leaving Türkiye in the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by 4.1% compared to the same quarter of the previous year, reaching 12 million 472 thousand people. 13.6% of these visitors, or 1 million 694 thousand people, were residents living abroad.
The number of visitors leaving our country in 2023 increased by 11.1% compared to the previous year, reaching 57 million 77 thousand people. Of these, 13.5%, or 7 million 730 thousand people, were residents living abroad.
Average nightly spending was 99 dollars
In this quarter, the average nightly expenditure of visitors staying in Türkiye was 93 dollars. The average nightly expenditure of residents living abroad was 64 dollars.
When evaluated annually, the average nightly expenditure of those staying overnight was 99 dollars, while it was 72 dollars for residents living abroad.
Increase in accommodation and package tour expenditures
In this quarter compared to the same quarter of last year, sports, education, and culture expenditures increased by 49.4%, accommodation expenses by 14.3%, and food and beverage expenses by 12.9%. Annually, sports, education, and culture expenditures increased by 70.7%, food and beverage expenses by 33.2%, and accommodation expenses by 27%.
Most common reasons for visits
In this quarter, visitors primarily visited our country for "tourism, entertainment, sports, and cultural activities" at 63.6%. The second most common reason was "visiting relatives and friends" at 22.4%, followed by "shopping" at 6%. Residents living abroad mainly visited our country for "visiting relatives and friends" at 70.4%.
Annually, the primary reason for visits was "tourism, entertainment, sports, and cultural activities" at 67.6%, while for residents living abroad, it was "visiting relatives and friends" at 67.4%.
Tourism expenditure increased
The tourism expenditure, comprising the expenses of residents living in Türkiye who visited other countries, increased by 36% compared to the same quarter of the previous year, reaching 1 billion 968 million dollars. Of this, 1 billion 664 million dollars were personal expenditures, while 304 million 64 thousand dollars were package tour expenditures.
Annually, the tourism expenditure increased by 65.3% compared to the previous year, reaching 7 billion 68 million dollars. Of this, 5 billion 916 million dollars were personal expenditures, while 1 billion 151 million dollars were package tour expenditures.
Increase in visits abroad
In this quarter, the number of residents visiting abroad increased by 26.3% compared to the same quarter of the previous year, reaching 3 million 142 thousand people. Their average expenditure per person was 626 dollars.
Annually, the number of residents visiting abroad increased by 52.3% compared to the previous year, reaching 11 million 67 thousand people. Their average expenditure per person was 639 dollars.
