Turkey tourism shows mixed trends in 2026

Data from the first half and eight months of 2026 reveal divergent trends in Turkey's tourism sector. Domestic tourism spending saw a significant nominal increase, rising 33.1% in the first half of the year to 257.3 billion TL. However, the total number of overnight stays decreased by 13.6%, suggesting shorter trips despite higher individual spending.

In Istanbul, the tourism sector faces a contradiction: while 12.47 million foreign visitors arrived during the first eight months of 2026, average hotel room prices fell by approximately 21% compared to 2023 levels. Despite the price drop, hotel occupancy rates in the city rose to 76.56% in August.

Conversely, the city of Erzurum reported record growth. During the first eight months of 2026, Erzurum welcomed 428,563 tourists, a 36.9% increase over the same period in 2025. This growth was largely driven by domestic travelers, who increased by 41.3%, leading to a rise in total overnight stays to over 761,000.