Tourism professionals in Antalya expect a new record in 2025

Tourism professionals in Antalya, which closed last year with over 17 million tourists, want to host over 18 million tourists this year.

According to the data of the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Antalya hosted 17 million 278 thousand 103 tourists with transfer passengers between January 1 and December 31, 2024. With this figure, Antalya reached the highest level of all time in terms of the total number of visitors it hosted in a year.

The record number gave tourism professionals even more hope for this year.

Hakan Saatçioğlu, President of the Professional Hotel Managers Association (POYD), told AA correspondent that Antalya has become a brand city that has proven itself worldwide.

Saatçioğlu, stating that tourism has an important share in the country's economy and that Antalya also makes a serious contribution to the country's economy, stated that they are working in cooperation with both the public and private sectors in order to further develop tourism in the city.

Recalling that Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the number of foreign tourists coming to Antalya, Saatçioğlu said, "We had predicted 17 million at the beginning of the season. It is pleasing that so many people have come to the city. We will probably see 18.5 million this year."

Saatçioğlu, who stated that the spending per person increased from 97 dollars to 107 dollars, noted that they expect an increase this year as well.

Saatçioğlu, who stated that the tourism sector has achieved significant success, said, "Antalya hosts tourists from all over the world and the number increases every year. This shows that our guests are leaving here satisfied."

"We will focus on France this year"

Kaan Kaşif Kavaloğlu, President of the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association, also said that they have left a good year behind in tourism.

Pointing out that tourism has regained momentum after the global pandemic, Kavaloğlu said, "17 million was a figure we set in January last year. We are happy to have achieved the target. The target for this year is to exceed 18 million."

Underlining that Antalya's number one market is Russia, Kavaloğlu stated that they do not expect growth in these two markets unless the war between Russia and Ukraine ends.

Pointing out that the share in alternative markets needs to increase in order to set a new record, Kavaloğlu noted the following:

"We expect growth in Germany and England, which are our second and third markets. Poland, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, and Romania are our other strong markets. I think we have not been able to benefit sufficiently from France, the world's 5th largest source market. We will focus on France this year. I believe that we will increase our share in this market and exceed 18 million with the work we will do with the Tourism Promotion and Development Agency."