Türkiye’s tourism sector has experienced slower growth as geopolitical tensions have disrupted arrivals from European countries, resulting in a ‘flat trend.’
Data for the first seven months of 2026 indicates a decline in arrivals from several European countries. According to Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, visitor numbers from 18 of 22 European countries decreased compared with the same period in 2025. Slovakia recorded the steepest decline, with arrivals falling 12.39%, followed by the United Kingdom at 10.16% and Luxembourg at 8.96%. Visitor numbers from Czechia, France and Ireland also fell by more than 6%.
In Germany, Türkiye’s largest European source market, visitor arrivals remained nearly unchanged, with only a marginal decline of 0.04%. The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Hungary were the only markets to record increases during the first seven months of the year. Overall, the data indicates that Türkiye is facing difficulties in sustaining tourism demand across several of its key European source markets.
Industry representatives attributed the decline in arrivals mainly to ongoing conflicts involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Industry representatives also highlight the erosion of Türkiye’s price advantage as a factor contributing to its weakening position in the European market. Rising costs for accommodation, food and beverage, and other travel expenses have made the country less affordable and reduced its appeal as a budget-friendly destination.
Meanwhile, destinations such as Greece, Egypt, and Spain have become increasingly popular among European tourists, prompting tourism professionals to launch additional promotional campaigns. To offset weak early demand, some hotels introduced discounts of nearly 50%, which generated a modest recovery and helped build momentum in August, driving occupancy rates in coastal regions to around 90%.
Despite the broader decline across European markets, Germany remains Türkiye’s second-largest tourism market overall, ranking behind only Russia.
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