Ersoy: Tourism revenue reached $51.2 billion in nine months, year-end target $65 billion

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy answered questions from journalists at the Antalya Cultural Route Festival, reporting that Turkey's nine-month tourism revenue reached $51 billion 278 million with a 2.4 percent increase. According to Anadolu Agency, third-quarter revenue rose 5 percent year-over-year to $25 billion 526 million.

Ersoy said the war that began between Israel, the United States, and Iran at the end of February struck tourism in the second quarter, but rapid coordination with the sector and promotional and sales campaigns enabled recovery. The minister stated, "I had said the worst was behind us; indeed, we saw the results in the third quarter."

Over nine months, foreign visitors' average per-person daily spending reached $119.9, while spending across all visitors rose 4.6 percent to $107.7. The average length of stay was 10.34 nights. Ersoy said, "Unless we encounter a major surprise, I believe we will achieve tourism revenue above $65 billion by year-end."

Ersoy also reported a significant development in the fight against smuggling, announcing that new cultural artifacts returned to Turkey from the United States this week; she noted that detailed announcements would be made separately. Recording that the number of countries with which agreements have been reached rose to 14, Ersoy added that work continues with the United States, Switzerland, Japan, Uzbekistan, Greece, Denmark, and China.