Turkey targets 58 mln visitors, $40 mln tourism revenues for 2020 – media

Turkey is targeting a substantial increase in visitor numbers and tourism revenues this year.

Local newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported on Monday (Dec 6) tourism minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy as saying the country is aiming for 58 million foreign visitors and $40 billion in tourism revenues.  

Exact tourism figures for 2019 will only be released at the end of January but estimates are 51 million visitors generating $34 billion in receipts last year, said the report.  

42.9 million foreign visitors arrived in Turkey through November, 8.67% higher than the whole of 2018, according to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The highest number of tourists last year through November came from Russia (16.05%), Germany (11.27%), and the UK (5.84%).

Visitors from Muslim-majority countries mainly came from Iran (1.97 million), Iraq (1.28 million), Saudi Arabia (539,786), Jordan (453,067), and Lebanon (359,289).

A new study released on Monday by the Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TTYD) and the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) said the country's tourism revenue can reach $119 billion by 2033. 

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