Türkiye announced it is offering visa-free travel in a renewed boost for its tourism sector. Citizens of six countries can now enter the country without the need to obtain a visa prior to their travel.
These countries include Bahrain, Canada, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States (U.S.). Citizens from these countries can stay in Türkiye for up to 90 days. The decree, issued by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also seeks to promote cultural and diplomatic ties.
Read: Global tourists could reach 516 million before 2023 ends
Türkiye, top tourist destination
Türkiye is a top tourism destination, drawing visitors from around the world. It is widely known for its rich culture and history and is located strategically between Europe and Asia.
According to GlobalData, “The total number of inbound tourists in Türkiye is expected to exceed 2019 levels in 2023 reaching 48.5 million.” It will continue to grow until 2027, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of more than 7 percent. In addition to its appeal as a cultural hotspot, Türkiye is now becoming popular as a health and wellness destination.
Moreover, GlobalData also said that “in Türkiye, international tourists outnumbered domestic tourists in terms of taking leisure holidays as a purpose for travel. This can be substantiated by the country having 33.2 million international tourists arriving for leisure purposes compared to 17.7 million domestic tourists in 2022.”
Statistics from GlobalData showed that Germany, Russia, and the UK were the biggest contributors to Türkiye’s tourism market in 2022. The business intelligence firm said that “Germany is projected to continue to be the leading source market for Türkiye as it offers many attractive pull factors for German travelers.”
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