ANKARA, Türkiye / AsiaWire.IO / – Türkiye is positioning itself to rank as the sixth-highest-earning nation globally in tourism income, supported by an increased budget dedicated to the sector in 2027. The draft of the 2027 central government budget allocates $244.5 million for tourism, a rise from $188.4 million allocated this year, Anadolu Agency reported. This nearly $56.1 million boost, approximately 30%, aligns with the country’s latest revenue ambitions. Ankara’s target for next year is set at $70 billion in tourism earnings.
The budget proposal is consistent with Türkiye’s Medium-Term Programme, which outlines tourism revenue goals for the upcoming three years. After reaching $70 billion in 2027, the plan projects an increase to $73.5 billion in 2028 and $78.5 billion in 2029. The strategy envisions growth of $3.5 billion in 2028 and an additional $5 billion in 2029. Achieving the 2029 target would raise annual tourism income by roughly 20% compared to last year.
Last year marked a record-breaking performance for Türkiye, generating $65.2 billion from tourism. Nonetheless, the initial revenue target for 2026 of $68 billion was revised downward to $65 billion, reflecting the ongoing conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine, as well as issues in the Middle East. The 2027 goal of $70 billion would surpass last year’s record by about $4.8 billion and also exceed the revised 2026 target by $5 billion.
Ankara aims to improve its global tourism standing
According to projections based on data from the World Tourism Organisation, Türkiye is expected to move from a seventh-place position in global tourism revenue this year to sixth place in 2027. If the country successfully hits its $70 billion target next year and advances in the rankings, further forecasts suggest Türkiye could reach fifth place by 2028. These ranking ambitions are a key component of the 2027 sector budget plan.
Since 2017, Türkiye has made significant progress in global tourism rankings. Over that period, Türkiye advanced from 15th to seventh place in worldwide tourism revenue. It also moved up from eighth to fourth in total tourist arrivals. Authorities anticipate Türkiye will maintain its fourth-place position in arrivals through 2027 to 2029. This high ranking places Türkiye among the world’s most visited countries.
Travel and tourism competitiveness goals extend through 2029
Ankara also seeks to enhance its position in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index. Last year, Türkiye was projected to have ranked 36th in the index. The government’s targets include reaching 35th place in 2027, 34th in 2028, and 33rd by 2029. The index evaluates various factors and policies that influence the growth and sustainability of travel and tourism industries across nations.
These combined objectives aim to reinforce Türkiye’s reputation as a top global travel destination. The increased 2027 budget provides additional resources to the tourism sector as the country pursues higher revenue figures and improved international rankings. This strategic plan follows a year marked by regional conflicts that prompted downward revisions of revenue expectations. The final figures for 2026 will reveal how close the sector comes to its revised $65 billion target.