New figures released on January 31, 2025, indicate a sharp decrease in foreign arrivals to Turkey in December 2024. The latest data reveal that the foreign arrivals growth rate plunged to 4.23%, a significant drop from the 8.25% growth reported in November 2024.
This December figure marks a nearly half-year-on-year decline compared to the same month last year, demonstrating marked changes in travel patterns or possibly other macroeconomic influences affecting Turkey's tourism sector. The slowdown comes on the heels of a notable month in November 2024, where arrivals still showed a robust gain, albeit declining from earlier trends.
These statistics emphasize the necessity for the Turkish tourism industry and policymakers to analyze underlying causes and strategize appropriately to boost tourism re-engagement. The discrepancy between November and December could reflect seasonal adjustments or broader issues necessitating deeper investigation into external influences or market conditions affecting travel to Turkey during this period.