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The Journal · Türkiye

Türkiye Luxury Vacations: A Record $51.3 Billion in Tourism Revenue Through September

Türkiye luxury vacations are drawing travelers who spend more. Figures released in Istanbul on October 30, 2026 show record tourism revenue of $51.28 billion for the first nine months of the year, with $25.53 billion in the third quarter alone and higher spending per night.

At a glance

Türkiye's Record Tourism Revenue at a glance

Revenue, January to September
$51.28 billion, a record, up 2.4 percent
Revenue, third quarter
$25.53 billion, up 5 percent
Spending per night
$107.70 on average, up 4.6 percent; $119.90 for foreign visitors
Visitors, nine months
49.13 million
Top markets
Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom

Record nine months

Türkiye luxury vacations: a record nine months

Türkiye has had a record year for tourism revenue so far. At a news conference in Istanbul on October 30, 2026, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy presented figures showing $51.28 billion in tourism revenue between January and September, the highest ever for the period and 2.4 percent more than a year earlier. The Turkish Statistical Institute reported $25.53 billion for the third quarter alone, up 5 percent on the same months of 2025.

The country welcomed 49.13 million visitors over the nine months. Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom were the leading markets. Of the total, 23.37 million came in the third quarter, and visitors stayed an average of a little more than ten nights, rising to almost eleven in the summer quarter. Long stays and higher spending together lie behind the record.

Travelers are spending more

The most telling figure is spending. The average visitor spent $107.70 a night, 4.6 percent more than a year earlier, and foreign tourists averaged $119.90 a night. Rising spending per night is a sign of a country attracting more travelers who choose fine hotels, private guides, good restaurants and the experiences that go with them.

For American travelers, the attraction is easy to see. Türkiye combines one of the world's great cities, Istanbul, with landscapes found nowhere else, a long Mediterranean and Aegean coast, and a cuisine that rewards every meal. Our Türkiye luxury travel guide brings the country together in one place.

Where to go this

Where to go this autumn and winter

Istanbul is at its finest in the cooler months, when the Bosphorus is crisp and clear and the great mosques, palaces and bazaars are calmer than in summer. Our guide to Istanbul's luxury hotels on the Bosphorus describes the palace hotels and waterfront addresses, and the best of them are worth booking for the views alone.

Among the things to do in Istanbul, a few belong on every first visit: Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, facing each other across Sultanahmet Square; the Topkapı Palace and its treasury; the Grand Bazaar, best explored with a guide who knows the old workshops; and an evening on the water, by private boat if you can, as the lights come on along both shores of the Bosphorus.

Cappadocia is magical in autumn and winter, when the morning hot-air balloon flights rise over fairy chimneys sometimes dusted with snow; our guide to Cappadocia's cave hotels and balloon flights explains how to plan the early start. On the coast, the season resumes in spring, and our guides to Bodrum and the Turkish Riviera around Antalya cover the finest resorts and the yachting along the shore.

For anyone drawn to stay longer, our guide to Istanbul Luxury Real Estate and Bodrum villas explains how international buyers approach the market.

Questions readers ask

How much did Türkiye earn from tourism in 2026 so far?

$51.28 billion between January and September 2026, a record for the period and up 2.4 percent on 2025.

How much do visitors to Türkiye spend per night?

An average of $107.70 a night in the first nine months of 2026, and $119.90 for foreign tourists.

How long do visitors stay in Türkiye?

A little more than ten nights on average in the first nine months of 2026, and almost eleven nights in the third quarter.

Which countries send the most visitors to Türkiye?

Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom were the three leading markets in the first nine months of 2026.

Sources

Checked on 11/02/2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.