ANKARA, Türkiye / AsiaWire.IO / – Türkiye plans to rank as the sixth-highest global earner in tourism income, supported by a larger budget allocation for the industry in 2027. The 2027 draft of the central government budget allocates $244.5 million for tourism, an increase from $188.4 million this year, Anadolu Agency reported. The roughly $56.1 million rise, nearly 30%, underpins the country’s latest revenue ambitions. Ankara is aiming for $70 billion in tourism revenue next year.
This budget aligns with Türkiye’s Medium-Term Programme, which outlines revenue goals for the upcoming three years. Following a target of $70 billion in 2027, the plan projects $73.5 billion for 2028 and $78.5 billion for 2029. The strategy envisions an increase of $3.5 billion in 2028 and an additional $5 billion in 2029. Achieving the 2029 goal would elevate annual earnings by roughly 20% compared to last year’s figures.
In 2022, Türkiye achieved a record-breaking $65.2 billion in tourism revenue. However, 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 target of $70 billion would surpass last year’s record by about $4.8 billion and exceed the revised 2026 goal by $5 billion.
Ankara anticipates improved global tourism standings
Türkiye is projected to move from seventh place in global tourism revenue this year to sixth in 2027, based on data from the World Tourism Organisation. If the country reaches its $70 billion goal next year and climbs the rankings, further projections suggest Türkiye could reach fifth place by 2028. These ranking ambitions are a core component of the 2027 sector budget plan.
Since 2017, Türkiye has made notable progress in international rankings. Over this period, Türkiye advanced from 15th to seventh place in global tourism revenue. It also improved from eighth to fourth in total tourist arrivals. Officials expect the country to maintain fourth place in arrivals through 2027 to 2029, positioning Türkiye among the world’s most visited nations.
Targets set for travel competitiveness index through 2029
Ankara also aims to enhance its position in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index. Türkiye finished 36th last year, with goals to reach 35th in 2027, 34th in 2028, and 33rd in 2029. This index evaluates the policies and factors supporting travel and tourism sector growth across nations.
These combined targets seek to reinforce Türkiye’s position as a top global travel destination. The 2027 budget increase provides the tourism industry with additional resources as the nation pursues higher revenue and improved rankings. This strategy follows a year marked by regional conflicts that led to downward revisions in revenue expectations. Final 2026 figures will reveal how closely the sector approaches its revised $65 billion target.