Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the results of the country’s tourism sector for the first six months of 2026.

According to the statements made at a press conference held in Istanbul on July 31, 25.8 million foreign tourists visited Türkiye between January and June this year. Tourism revenues during the same period remained at a level comparable to last year, reaching 25.8 billion US dollars.

The number of visitors from Russia also increased during the reporting period. The number of Russian tourists reached approximately 2.65 million, which is 1.5% higher compared with the first half of 2025.

Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated that regional tensions and global uncertainties had affected tourism demand to some extent during the first half of 2026. However, he emphasized that Türkiye’s air transportation network and airports continued to operate smoothly, while strategic measures helped maintain stable tourism revenues.

According to the minister, Türkiye hosted 26.4 million tourists in the first six months of 2025, while the figure for the same period of 2026 stood at 25.8 million.

The average length of tourists’ stays in Türkiye also increased. The figure rose by 0.5% to 10.01 nights. Average spending per night increased by 2.6%, reaching 109 US dollars.

The top three countries sending the most tourists to Türkiye in the first half of 2026 remained unchanged:

  • Russian Federation — 2.65 million tourists;

  • Germany — 2.44 million tourists;

  • United Kingdom — 1.58 million tourists.

Experts note that Türkiye’s rich historical heritage, seaside destinations, natural attractions, and developed tourism infrastructure remain the country’s main advantages in the global tourism market.