Spending on domestic tourism in Turkey witnesses a significant increase of 68.9% during the first quarter
In the first quarter of 2025, Turkey witnessed a significant surge in domestic tourism activity, with both the number of trips and per-trip expenditures rising substantially compared to 2024 levels. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), a total of 12.65 million journeys with at least one overnight stay were made during this period, accounting for 85.3 million overnight stays in total.
The robust growth in domestic tourism spending is a clear indication of increased travel activity among Turkish residents. Food and beverage expenses dominated travel spending, accounting for 32% of the total, while accommodation accounted for 10.8%. Notably, staying with friends or relatives was the most popular accommodation choice, accounting for 67.7 million overnight stays, followed by travelers' own homes with 8.8 million overnight stays. Hotels captured third place, with nearly 5 million overnight stays.
Transportation expenses followed, accounting for 28.4% of the total travel spending. However, transportation costs during the first quarter of 2025 rose by 66.3% compared to the same period last year.
Visiting relatives and friends remained the primary reason for domestic travel, representing 71.3% of all trips. Leisure, entertainment, and vacation travel accounted for 19.6% of journeys, while health-related travel made up 5%. Package tour expenses made up the remaining 6.5% at nearly 5 billion lira.
Personal expenses accounted for 93.5% of total travel spending, amounting to 71.5 billion lira. This figure represents a 68.9% increase in domestic travel spending compared to the same period last year, amounting to ₺76.4 billion ($1.89B).
Meanwhile, the Turkish government has taken steps to protect national security and ensure regulatory compliance by blocking over 35 foreign eSIM providers. The Turkish Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK) introduced rules requiring that eSIM providers partner directly with local mobile operators, store all SIM profile data within Turkey, and restrict long-term roaming on foreign networks. This move effectively blocks many international eSIM services from operating freely within Turkey.
These changes have significant implications for travelers, digital nomads, and IoT devices relying on international eSIM connectivity, as they now face limited options and must adopt local Turkish telecom services to stay connected while in Turkey. The Turkish government aims to safeguard domestic telecommunications providers’ market share and keep revenue generated by mobile services within the country by restricting foreign eSIM services. By doing so, users are pushed to switch to local providers, such as Turk Telekom or Turkcell, which are closely tied to government regulation and oversight.
The average spending per trip reached 6,040 Turkish lira, with the average trip duration being 6.7 nights. As Turkey continues to attract domestic tourists and navigate changes in its telecom sector, these trends are likely to shape the country's tourism landscape in the coming years.
- The surge in domestic tourism spending in Turkey during the first quarter of 2025 might influence the local finance sector, as personal expenses associated with travel reached an astonishing ₺71.5 billion ($1.89B), signifying a significant increase compared to the previous year.
- The Turkish business sector could potentially benefit from the strengthening tourism industry, as food and beverage expenses alone accounted for a substantial 32% of the total travel spending during the first quarter of 2025.
- Nevertheless, the rise in transportation expenses during the same period, which increased by 66.3% compared to the previous year, could present challenges for both tourists and the Turkish business community alike.
