TEHRAN - In the first seven months of the current year, Iran emerged as the fifth-largest source of tourists for Türkiye, contributing significantly to the country’s booming tourism sector.

According to data released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Türkiye welcomed 28.9 million visitors in the first seven months of the year, marking an 8.27% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Russia led the list of countries sending tourists to Türkiye with 3.61 million visitors, followed closely by Germany with 3.5 million and the United Kingdom with 2.43 million. Iran and Bulgaria rounded out the top five, underscoring Iran's importance as a key source of tourism for Türkiye.

This influx of Iranian tourists played a crucial role in supporting Türkiye's overall tourism growth. Despite a significant 30.6% drop in tourists from Western Asia, the strong numbers from Iran helped balance the regional decline.

For that period, Istanbul remained the top destination within Türkiye, attracting 8.5 million tourists in the first half of 2024, a testament to the city’s ongoing popularity. The city alone accounted for a significant portion of Türkiye’s overall tourism growth, benefiting from the diverse influx of international visitors, including those from Iran.

AM