Turkey reports UK arrivals up by 3% in first quarter of 2026

Turkey has reported UK visitor numbers rose by 3.4% year on year in the first quarter of 2026, to a total of more than 314,300.

Meanwhile, the number of Irish visitors increased by 17%, reaching a total of more than 23,000.

Overall, the destination experienced a 4.2% rise in international visitors for the first three months of 2026, totalling 9.2 million people. Tourism revenues also rose by 4.2%, up to $9.9 billion.

Average expenditure per night from visitors increased by 2.8% to £75, a 2.8% increase. The figures for this period were £50 in 2017 and £73 in 2025.

The largest markets were Germany with 678,000, Russian Federation with 651,000, and Bulgaria with 539,000 visitors.

More: Turkey and Greece ‘falling out of favour’ as British holidaymakers rely on old favourites, study claims

Turkey attracted 64m tourists in 2025 but UK arrivals dip

Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, culture and tourism minister, said: “We are going through an extremely sensitive period on a global scale. Regional tensions, geopolitical developments, the negative impact of conflicts, and the resulting fluctuations in international travel movements are among the main factors directly affecting the tourism sector.

“Crises can and will always occur in our region; however, what is decisive here is how these periods are managed.

“Last year, we faced similar global developments and regional uncertainties. Despite this, we closed 2025 with 64 million visitors and tourism revenue of $65.2 billion.

“The figures clearly demonstrate that Türkiye is not only a strong destination in tourism but also possesses a high capacity for crisis management.

“We will continue on our path this year with the same determination and the experience we have gained.

“We are directly monitoring reservation trends, cancellations, changes in travel plans, and consumer behaviours from the field. This allows us not only to analyse the current situation but also to develop market-specific, rapid and effective actions.”

He also highlighted international sports and cultural events coming to Turkey, including the Turkish Grand Prix in 2027 and the UEFA Europa League Finals in İstanbul on May 20.