Due to its geographical location, Türkiye has witnessed travel and migration since ancient times. In antiquity and the Middle Ages, it attracted numerous visitors thanks to its thermal springs and religious centers. During the Seljuk period, caravanserais and inns built along major trade routes kept travel activity vibrant across Anatolia. In the Ottoman Empire, although travel was relatively limited, the first modern tourism movement began in 1863, when an exhibition called Sergi-i Umumi-i Osmani attracted tourists—particularly from Austria and other parts of Europe. Around the same time, the first tourist groups from Istanbul also began traveling abroad.

The inauguration of the Orient Express railway connecting Istanbul to Paris in 1870 encouraged the construction of hotels, and the first modern hotel in Türkiye, Pera Palace Hotel, opened in 1892. Around the same time, two foreign travel agencies were also established.

Following World War I, tourism activity in Türkiye slowed due to the War of Independence. Tourism was revived in the early years of the Republic thanks to improvements in transportation. Under Atatürk’s directive, the Travelers’ Society (later renamed the Touring and Automobile Club of Türkiye) was established to organize tourism-related activities. This association shaped Türkiye’s tourism policies until World War II. Beginning in 1957, tourism became a matter handled at the ministerial level, although Türkiye only gained international recognition in tourism more recently.

International tourism became a significant phenomenon in Türkiye only in recent decades. For example, while only 30,000 tourists visited Türkiye in 1950, this number exceeded 500,000 in 1965, reached 2 million in 1985, and—thanks to global trends in 1988—surpassed 5 million by 1990. Some setbacks in the mid-1990s, such as acts of terrorism and the 1991 Gulf War, affected tourism from Western Europe but were offset by an increase in tourists from Eastern Europe. By 1997, Türkiye welcomed nearly 10 million tourists, placing it among the top 20 countries in the world in terms of tourist arrivals and tourism revenue.

Both the public and private sectors have played a major role in the successful development of tourism in Türkiye. Notably, tourism has been included in the country’s Five-Year Development Plans, with particular focus on regions such as Marmara, the Aegean, and Antalya. The Türkiye Tourism Bank, established in 1955, led to the creation of the TURBAN hotel chain. Additionally, public institutions such as the Pension Fund invested in the hospitality sector (e.g., Istanbul Hilton, Istanbul Büyük Tarabya, Izmir Büyük Efes, Bursa Çelik Palas).

In 1985, foreign investment and private-sector involvement were encouraged through tourism loans issued by the Tourism Bank. This led to a significant increase in accommodation facilities: in 1984, there were 642 tourism-certified lodging establishments, while by early 1997, this number had reached 301,524.

These facilities are sufficient to accommodate the current number of visitors. Of all lodging options, hotels account for 76%, with 4- and 5-star hotels concentrated in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and tourist hubs like Antalya, Side, and Kemer. Other accommodations include holiday villages (16%), pensions (2%), and campgrounds (1.9%).

Advances in transportation have also contributed to tourism growth. In addition to Turkish Airlines’ regular flights, private airlines and travel agencies (Türkiye has 2,408 agencies: 2,034 Type A, 193 Type B, and 181 Type C) organize tours that play a major role in tourism.

Tourist Arrivals by Year (Inbound / Outbound):

  • 1950: 28,625 inbound

  • 1960: 124,228 inbound / 28,211 outbound

  • 1970: 724,784 inbound / 146,717 outbound

  • 1980: 1,288,060 inbound / 1,794,808 outbound

  • 1990: 5,389,308 inbound / 2,917,118 outbound

  • 1995: 7,726,886 inbound / 4,045,143 outbound

  • 1997: 9,689,004 inbound / 4,238,619 outbound

Until recently, domestic tourism in Türkiye was minimal. Traditionally centered around visits to relatives and friends, it evolved in the 1970s into a trend of acquiring vacation homes along the coasts. Initially built near cities (now often within city boundaries), these homes later moved farther out—e.g., Istanbul residents building in Kumburgaz, Selimpaşa, and Bayramoğlu; Izmir residents in Çeşme. Today, owning a second home near the sea has become a trend, though it has contributed to coastal overdevelopment and loss of agricultural land.

Domestic tourism now includes summer vacations in Çeşme, Bodrum, Marmaris, Antalya, and Kemer, and winter tourism in Uludağ, Kartalkaya, and other ski resorts. However, high accommodation prices—geared toward foreign tourists—remain a barrier to domestic tourism.

Factors Affecting Tourism in Türkiye

Tourism in Türkiye is influenced by both natural and human-made factors.

Natural Factors:

  • Geographical location: Türkiye lies at a strategic point where the continents of Asia, Europe, and Africa are closest. It sits along major land and sea routes, offering easy access to tourists.

  • Climate: The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, which attract the most tourists, enjoy annual average temperatures of 15–20°C and summer temperatures of 25–28°C. The sea remains swimmable (20°C or more) for about 5–6 months, and sunshine durations are also favorable for beach tourism.

  • Winter tourism is also supported by snowfall in areas such as Uludağ (Bursa), Palandöken (Erzurum), and Kartalkaya (Bolu).

Topography:

  • Mountainous areas support winter sports.

  • Cool summer temperatures in highland areas promote plateau tourism (e.g., Çamlıyayla, Tekir).

  • Natural formations like fairy chimneys (Ürgüp, Göreme) and travertines (Pamukkale) attract visitors.

  • Caves (e.g., Karain Cave) and sandy beaches also draw attention.

Flora, fauna, and conservation areas:

  • National Parks such as Gallipoli, Bolu Abant, and Dilek Peninsula contribute to eco-tourism.

  • Mediterranean monk seals in Foça and Caretta caretta turtles in Iztuzu Beach are examples of protected wildlife that enhance tourism appeal.