Local spending on tourism in Türkiye more than doubled in 2023, official data showed Wednesday, as domestic travel remained buoyant despite soaring inflation.
Expenditures rose by 101% compared to the previous year to nearly TL 229.8 billion (around $7.1 billion), according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).
Throughout the year, Turks made 61.46 million domestic trips, a rise of 17.5% from a year earlier. They lifted their overnight stays by 10.9% to just over 473 million. The average length of stay was recorded as 7.7 nights.
The strong tourism data came despite soaring costs amid stubbornly high inflation, which currently runs at nearly 70%. Inflation ended 2023 at nearly 65% on an annual basis.
Türkiye walked away from years of easing policy after last year’s presidential and parliamentary elections. It delivered aggressive tightening aimed at cooling demand to curb inflation, rebuilding reserves, and flipping chronic current account…