ISTANBUL – Türkiye has emerged as one of the world’s strongest tourism recovery stories, ranking fourth among OECD and partner countries for growth in international visitor numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2026 report.
The report shows that Japan recorded the strongest increase in international tourist arrivals between 2019 and 2025, with visitor numbers rising 34%, followed by Norway at 28% and Denmark at 22%. Türkiye ranked fourth, posting a 21% increase over the same period.
Türkiye welcomed approximately 62 million international visitors in 2025, up from 51.2 million in 2019, underscoring the country’s rapid recovery and growing appeal as a global travel destination.
The OECD noted that international tourism across its member and partner countries reached a record 847 million arrivals in 2025, representing a 3.4% increase from the previous year after an 8.1% rise in 2024. While the sector has largely surpassed pre-pandemic levels, the organization cautioned that geopolitical tensions, changing travel preferences and climate-related risks continue to pose challenges for the industry.
According to the OECD, Türkiye generated $65.2 billion in tourism revenue in 2025 and aims to increase annual tourism income to $100 billion by 2028, supported by continued investment in tourism infrastructure, destination diversification and sustainable growth strategies.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök