Turkey Witness Cruise Tourism Hits Historic High with More than Two Million Passengers in this Year, Cementing Its Position as a Top Global Cruise Destination

Published on December 14, 2025

A new record for cruise tourism in Turkey has been established, with 2.09 million cruise passengers in the first 11 months of 2025, with this record being the best annual performance for the history of cruise tourism in the country. A total number of 1,347 cruise vessels took harbor in Turkey between January and November of the year, which is a significant rise from the vessels that took harbor in the same months of the previous year, amounting to 1,167 vessels with 1.85 million cruise passengers.

An increase in 180 more cruises and about 243,000 more passengers indicates the attractiveness of Turkey as a cruise tourist destination, which is evident by the effectiveness of Turkey’s ports and tourist development strategies targeting the attraction of global cruise tourists. Increased cruise tourism development in Turkey makes it one of the major destinations for cruise tourists globally.

Kusadasi and Istanbul: Leading Turkey’s Cruise Traffic

Kusadasi, located in the Aegean province of Aydin, remained Turkey’s busiest cruise port, hosting 611 ships and nearly 990,000 passengers—including 910,000 transit and 78,000 turnaround visitors. Kusadasi is expected to surpass the 1 million passenger threshold by the end of the year, a historic achievement for the port.

Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city and a popular homeport hub, welcomed 615,000 cruise visitors in 2025, including 400,000 transit and 215,000 turnaround passengers. Istanbul’s rise as a homeport destination is particularly noteworthy, with the number of homeport passengers more than doubling compared to last year’s 93,851. The city’s growing appeal as a departure point for international cruise lines is contributing to the overall expansion of Turkey’s cruise tourism.

In addition to Kusadasi and Istanbul, other ports such as Marmaris, Bodrum, Cesme, Canakkale, Sinop, and Samsun also saw increased cruise traffic, expanding Turkey’s geographically diverse cruise network. The growing number of ports of call is attracting a wider range of tourists and encouraging more regional tourism.

Cruise Tourism Driving Economic Growth and Tourism Expansion

The remarkable success of Turkey’s cruise tourism sector has broader economic implications. The 2.09 million passengers visiting Turkey in 2025 reflect the country’s continued rise as a key global cruise destination, contributing significantly to the country’s tourism revenue. With more cruise lines opting to include Turkey in their itineraries, the country is expected to continue seeing growth in both tourism arrivals and economic impact from the cruise industry.

The success is largely attributed to infrastructure improvements, with port expansions and upgrades in major destinations like Istanbul and Kusadasi. These improvements, combined with inter-ministerial collaboration, particularly between the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry and the Tourism Ministry, have been crucial in enhancing Turkey’s competitiveness as a cruise tourism hub in the Mediterranean and globally.

Minister’s Remarks on Turkey’s Cruise Tourism Success

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy described the impressive figures as a milestone for the sector, emphasizing that Turkey has now positioned itself as one of the most preferred countries in global cruise routes. Ersoy attributed the sector’s momentum to the commitment to infrastructure development and collaboration between key government departments, which has greatly enhanced tourism experiences for cruise passengers.

“Turkey is now one of the most attractive cruise destinations not only in the Mediterranean but also globally,” Minister Ersoy stated. He went on to express his confidence in the sector’s continued growth and potential to contribute further to Turkey’s economic prosperity.

Tourism Impact: Cruise Industry Contributing to Turkey’s Economic Goals

The growth of the cruise tourism sector aligns with Turkey’s broader tourism goals, as the country strives to welcome 64 million tourists and generate $65 billion in tourism revenue by the end of 2025. The increase in cruise arrivals plays a critical role in achieving these targets, further cementing the tourism industry’s importance to Turkey’s economy.

By boosting international tourism and expanding its cruise network, Turkey is enhancing its global visibility and attracting high-value visitors who contribute significantly to the local economy. As more cruise ships dock in Turkish ports, the resulting tourism revenue will continue to support the country’s sustainable growth and long-term economic development.

Future Impact: Positioning Turkey as a Leading Global Cruise Destination

Looking to the future, Turkey has the potential to become an even more prominent player in the global cruise tourism industry. With its increasing appeal to international cruise lines and the expansion of homeport options, Turkey’s cruise tourism sector is expected to continue to thrive. The growth of key ports like Istanbul and Kusadasi will contribute to long-term tourism development, while also enhancing the country’s appeal as a destination for both luxury travelers and family vacationers.

The growing number of cruise passengers and expanded cruise routes signal a shift towards year-round tourism, helping to balance seasonal fluctuations and create a more sustainable tourism economy. As infrastructure investments continue and tourism marketing efforts are ramped up, Turkey’s position as a cruise tourism leader will be solidified, attracting more international travelers and boosting economic contributions for years to come.

Turkey’s Cruise Tourism Sector is Ready for Continued Growth

The record-breaking number of cruise passengers in 2025 bears testimony to the outlook for Turkey as one of the premier destinations for cruise tourism in the world. Turkey is dividends-ready with enhanced development of ports, more cruise tourists, and efforts for sustainable tourism practices as a great prospect for enhanced development of the cruise tourism trade in the country. The outlook for the tourism trade in Turkey is excellent, with the cruise tourism trade set for further development. It is significant that the collaborative efforts of Hong Kong Airlines contribute immensely to Turkey’s grand outlook for the tourism trade in the global arena.