Record-breaking year for tourism: 2 of the top 4 most-visited cities are in Türkiye

Travel has almost returned to its pre-pandemic peak. In November 2023, the U.N. World Tourism Organization observed that international travel was on course to achieve 90% of pre-pandemic levels, with approximately 975 million individuals venturing abroad during the year.

Among these international travelers, Türkiye emerged as a favored destination. 

In December, Euromonitor International unveiled its Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023, indicating the leading 10 cities globally for international arrivals. Strikingly, two of the top four most-visited cities globally are situated in Türkiye – Istanbul and Antalya. 

“Istanbul leads the tally for international arrivals in 2023 with a 26% surge year-on-year, followed by London in second place (up 17%) and Dubai in third (up 18%),” the report highlighted.

While Istanbul’s stature as a sprawling megalopolis of 15.5 million people may not be surprising, Antalya’s ability to welcome 16.5 million international visitors, surpassing…