Turkish tourism has come to a standstill: peak summer traffic decreases for the first time in five years

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 08. 22. 10:25

The number of foreign tourists to Turkey fell for the first time in five years in July, with 6.97 million visitors, down 5 percent from the same month last year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This is the first drop in the peak summer season since the 2020 pandemic and raises concerns about one of the country’s most important sectors of the economy.

A strengthening lira and rising prices could curb the influx of visitors

The Turkish lira has been strengthening over the past year as the central bank has used a tight monetary policy to try to curb inflation of more than 30 percent. While this serves the purpose of economic stabilization, it also hurts the competitiveness of exporters and makes the country more expensive for tourists. Several foreign travelers have complained about the high prices: Murat Akbal, president of Akbaldan Turizm in Marmaris, said they have been charged $20 for a pizza and $35 for a few meatballs. “This is damaging the reputation of the entire industry and the country,” he said.

Parallels with Italy

The situation is similar to the summer slump in Italian tourism, where high prices and extreme weather also caused a drop in demand. In Italy, the price of a family beach holiday can reach up to 6,500 euros, which has driven many people further north. A similar risk now threatens Turkey, where rising prices could deter middle-class travelers.