Türkiye’s popular holiday hub, Antalya, welcomed nearly 17.3 million visitors last year, marking a new record for the Mediterranean city, according to recently released tourism data.
The number of tourists arriving in Antalya in 2024 increased by 8% compared to the previous year, reaching 16.93 million, according to data from the provincial directorate of culture and tourism on Friday.
Including 352,754 transfer passengers arriving at Antalya Airport, the total number of visitors in 2024 was 17.28 million, setting a new record.
"Our city, one of the world's most important tourism centers, experienced a record year, reaching the highest number of visitors in its history with a total of 17.28 million," Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said in a post on X.
"This historic success once again demonstrates the international appeal of our city," he added.
The positive momentum was welcomed by sector representatives, who now hope to host 18 million visitors this year, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported on Saturday.
"We predicted 17 million at the beginning of the season, and it is pleasing that so many people visited the city. This year, we will likely see 18.5 million," Hakan Saatçioğlu, President of the Professional Hotel Managers Association (POYD), told AA.
Antalya, known for its favorable climate and numerous beaches, has emerged as one of the world's leading tourism destinations. Alongside Istanbul, it attracts the highest number of visitors in Türkiye.
Recently, the city received the 2025 "Tourism City of the Year Award" from the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation.
Russians Lead Visitor Numbers
In 2024, Antalya was most popular among tourists from Russia, Germany, and Britain, according to the data.
- Russia led with 3.9 million visitors, followed by
- Germany with 3.52 million, and
- The U.K. with 1.57 million.
Other top visitor countries included Poland, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Romania, Ukraine, Czechia, and Lithuania.
December Tourism Trends
In December, Antalya welcomed 318,641 tourists.
- The highest number of visitors came from Germany (81,244),
- Followed by Russia (46,793), and
- The U.K. (34,170).
Turkish Citizens Visiting Antalya
Antalya also achieved a historic milestone in 2024, surpassing 1 million Turkish citizens returning from abroad in a single year—an important turning point for the city's tourism.
Kaan Kaşif Kavaloğlu, President of the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (AKTOB), highlighted the strong tourism recovery post-pandemic:
"17 million was a target we set in January last year. We are pleased to have achieved it. This year's goal is to exceed 18 million."
Türkiye’s Overall Tourism Growth
In the first 11 months of 2024, foreign tourist arrivals in Türkiye increased by 7.1% year-over-year, exceeding 50 million—a new all-time high, even without December’s figures.
Including Turkish citizens living abroad, total visitor numbers reached 57.4 million between January and November.
In 2023, Türkiye welcomed a record 49.2 million foreign tourists. The Culture and Tourism Ministry is expected to announce full-year 2024 data soon.
