ANKARA, Türkiye / AsiaWire.IO / – Turkey plans to rank as the sixth-largest global destination in tourism earnings, supported by a substantial increase in sector funding for 2027. The 2027 central government budget proposal allocates $244.5 million to tourism, rising from $188.4 million this year, Anadolu Agency reported. The roughly $56.1 million boost, nearly 30%, aligns with Turkey’s latest revenue ambitions. Ankara is targeting $70 billion in tourism income for the upcoming year.
This budget aligns with Turkey’s Medium-Term Programme, which outlines tourism revenue goals for the next three years. After reaching $70 billion in 2027, the plan projects $73.5 billion in 2028 and $78.5 billion in 2029, with increases of $3.5 billion and $5 billion respectively. Achieving the 2029 target would boost annual earnings by approximately 20% compared to last year.
Last year, Turkey achieved a record-breaking $65.2 billion in tourism revenue, though the initial 2026 target of $68 billion was revised downward to $65 billion, reflecting ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East. The 2027 goal of $70 billion would surpass last year’s record by about $4.8 billion and exceed the revised 2026 target by $5 billion.
Ankara aims to improve its global tourism standing
Turkey is projected to advance from seventh place in global tourism revenue this year to sixth in 2027, according to data from the World Tourism Organization. If the country meets its $70 billion target and climbs the rankings, further forecasts suggest Turkey could reach fifth place by 2028. These ranking objectives are a key component of the 2027 sector budget plan.
Since 2017, Turkey has made significant progress in global rankings, rising from 15th to seventh in tourism revenue and from eighth to fourth in total tourist arrivals, according to Turkey. Officials anticipate maintaining fourth place in arrivals through 2027 to 2029, positioning Turkey among the world’s most visited nations.
Targets set for travel competitiveness through 2029
Additionally, Ankara seeks to enhance its ranking in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index. Last year, Turkey was ranked 36th; the government aims for 35th place in 2027, 34th in 2028, and 33rd by 2029. The index evaluates the policies and factors that support travel and tourism sector growth in various countries.
These combined objectives are designed to reinforce Turkey’s position as a top global travel destination. The increased 2027 budget provides the tourism industry with additional resources as Turkey strives for higher revenues and improved rankings. This initiative follows a year marked by regional conflicts that led to downward revisions of revenue expectations. Final 2026 figures will reveal how close the sector comes to its adjusted $65 billion target.