While 13 million 692 thousand 627 passengers entered and exited through Kapikule, Hamzabeyli and Demirkoy customs gates, which open to Bulgaria, and Ipsala and Pazarkule, which open to Greece, in 2022, this number increased to 15 million 6 thousand 852 in 2023.
Last year, 15 million 6 thousand 852 passengers passed through the customs gates opening from Turkiye to Europe.
It was an active year at the Kapikule, Hamzabeyli, Ipsala and Pazarkule customs gates in Edirne and Derekoy customs gates in Kirklareli, affiliated with the Thrace Customs and Foreign Trade Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Commerce.
Passenger traffic at Kapikule, Hamzabeyli and Demirkoy customs gates, which open to Bulgaria, and Ipsala and Pazarkule, which open to Greece, increased by approximately 10% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
While 13 million 692 thousand 627 passengers entered and exited through customs gates in 2022, this number increased to 15 million 6 thousand 852 with an increase of 1 million 314 thousand 225 passengers in 2023.
Last year, 7 million 547 thousand 87 passengers entered and 7 million 459 thousand 765 passengers exited the customs gates in Thrace.
Kapikule, one of the largest land border gates in the world, became the busiest customs point with 8 million 26 thousand 457 passengers entering and exiting.
Kapikule was followed by Ipsala customs gates with 2 million 514 thousand 910 passengers, Hamzabeyli with 2 million 311 thousand 802 passengers, Derekoy with 1 million 462 thousand 725 passengers, and Pazarkule customs gates with 690 thousand 958 passengers.
An average of 41 thousand 115 passengers passed through customs gates per day.
The number of passenger vehicles entering and exiting the customs gates in Thrace increased by 13% in 2023 compared to 2022.
While 3 million 336 thousand 291 vehicles entered and exited customs gates in 2022, this figure increased to 3 million 776 thousand 36 in 2023.
An average of 10 thousand 345 vehicles used the customs gates for passage per day.
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz