01.11.2026 15:31
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced that despite the war in the Gulf, tourism revenue reached 51 billion 278 million dollars in the first 9 months of the year, an increase of 2.4 percent. Ersoy, who said they expect revenue above 65 billion dollars by the end of the year, also stated that it is envisaged to limit the share that foreign accommodation platforms will receive from hotels to 17 percent.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy met with members of the press in Antalya and made statements on many issues, from tourism data to the return of cultural assets, and from the restoration of Hagia Sophia to the regulation concerning digital accommodation platforms.
“WE LIMITED THE IMPACT OF THE WAR WITH PROMOTIONAL STEPS”
Stating that they had a good start to tourism in 2026 but that the war that began in the Gulf region at the end of February affected tourism activity, Ersoy said that the increase in energy prices raised the cost of air transportation in particular. Ersoy explained that there were also problems in important source markets such as Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Arguing that Türkiye is an “island of stability” in its geography, Ersoy recalled that they changed their tourism strategy in 2018 and, with the aim of diversifying products and source markets, established the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) in 2019.
51.3 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE IN THE FIRST 9 MONTHS
Announcing that tourism revenue in the third quarter increased by 5 percent compared with the same period last year and reached 25 billion 526 million dollars, Ersoy noted that tourism revenue for the first nine months was 51 billion 278 million dollars, an increase of 2.4 percent. Stating that they encountered serious booking cancellations in the first period of the war but compensated for most of them with new campaigns, Ersoy said that they reached 7.1 billion impressions in 74 countries with digital campaigns, while 10 mini-series published in 2025 and 2026 received a total of 10.5 billion impressions.
AVERAGE NIGHTLY EXPENDITURE PER PERSON IS 107.7 DOLLARS
Ersoy announced that in the first nine months of the year, the average length of stay was 10.34 nights, and the average nightly expenditure per foreign visitor reached 119.9 dollars. Stating that the average nightly expenditure per person across all visitor groups was 107.7 dollars, an increase of 4.6 percent, Ersoy spoke as follows:
“If we do not encounter a very big surprise by the end of the year, I think we will achieve tourism revenue of over 65 billion dollars. However, we need to act cautiously, also taking current geopolitical developments into account. ”
THE PICTURE REVEALED BY HAYDARPAŞA’S FOUNDATION
Reiterating that they aim to open the first phases of the Haydarpaşa and Sirkeci projects in 2027, Ersoy explained that they encountered unforeseen situations during the works. Stating that they had reached the original projects of Haydarpaşa Station, Ersoy said the following:
“In these projects, we saw that there were approximately 1,000 wooden piles in the foundation of the structure, with lengths varying between 8 and 21 meters and diameters between 50 and 90 centimeters. In the ground-penetrating radar work carried out to determine the current situation, it was determined that approximately 200 of them were in place, while approximately 800 could not be detected. ”
Ersoy stated that it was determined that the ground was in a loose, water-saturated structure with a risk of liquefaction; therefore, they prioritized ground reinforcement works before the superstructure, and the process both took time and created additional cost. Stating that new archaeological remains were found during excavations in the Archeopark area, Ersoy said that the projects were rearranged in a way that would preserve these remains.
Recalling that the first archaeology museum of the Anatolian Side will be established in Haydarpaşa and a migration museum in Sirkeci, Ersoy noted that trains will continue to come to Haydarpaşa, and tourist trains will also be able to depart from there.
17 PERCENT LIMIT FOR FOREIGN PLATFORMS
Also touching on the bill debated in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) that includes a regulation for foreign digital accommodation platforms, Ersoy said their aim was to establish a competitive, fair system that protects consumers. Ersoy gave the following information about the bill:
“According to the bill, in domestic-to-domestic sales, the amount that platforms may receive over the sales price of the service, under whatever name, cannot exceed 17 percent. This calculation will be made on the amount excluding taxes. ”
Stating that the bill will impose an obligation on foreign platforms to have a representative in Türkiye, Ersoy explained that a two-year, non-transferable permit certificate is envisaged for platforms, the certificate fee has been set at 5 million lira, and it is planned to be increased each year at the revaluation rate.
RETURN OF CULTURAL ASSETS
Explaining that they strengthened institutional capacity for the return of cultural assets and raised the anti-smuggling unit to the level of a department head, Ersoy said the number of countries with bilateral agreements had risen to 14. Stating that today experts from different countries come to Türkiye to receive training in this field, Ersoy said that new artifacts were brought from the US this week and that they would make a statement about it. Ersoy said, “For us, how many years have passed since an artifact was smuggled is not a reason to give up pursuing that artifact.”
DİYARBAKIR PRISON WILL BE READY AT THE END OF THE YEAR
Stating that the transformation project of Diyarbakır Prison had reached its final stage, Ersoy announced that they aimed to complete the works by the end of the year. Ersoy said that an 18,500-square-meter section within the 47-decare area would be used as a memory museum and library, while the former indoor sports hall would be converted into a 520-person multi-purpose performance and event hall. He noted that contributions from people who had previously been in the prison, witnesses of the period, historians and academics were used in preparing the memory museum.
NEW PHASE IN HAGIA SOPHIA’S EASTERN HALF-DOME
Claiming that they are carrying out the most comprehensive restoration, conservation and reinforcement works in the history of the Republic at Hagia Sophia, Ersoy announced that while work on the main dome continues, a new phase has begun in the eastern half-dome, where the mihrab and minbar are located. Stating that modeling and static analyses showed that this section needed reinforcement, Ersoy said that installation of a steel working platform had begun to provide access to the eastern half-dome.
Ersoy reported that approximately 3,000 tons of mud and rubble had been removed from underground so far, and stated that they aimed to open suitable sections to visitors after the necessary infrastructure works.
GIANT CONVENTION CENTER FOR ANTALYA
Stating that they are investing in congress and event tourism to spread tourism activity across all 12 months of the year, Ersoy said they aim to establish one of Türkiye’s largest fair, congress and event centers in the Antalya EXPO area after COP31 is completed.
Ersoy also announced that they won the lawsuit regarding the transfer of the Lütfi Kırdar Congress Center in Istanbul to the Ministry.
NEW ANTALYA ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM IN 2027
Stating that they aim to open the new Antalya Archaeology Museum in 2027, Ersoy explained that the licensing process, the travertine structure of the ground, and work restrictions during the tourism season affected the schedule. He noted that in the new museum, the indoor area will be twice that of the old museum, and the exhibition areas will be approximately three times larger.
FORMULA 1 AND NIGHT MUSEUM VISITS
Ersoy, saying that they see Formula 1 not merely as a race weekend but as a great opportunity for the promotion of Turkey, stated that they aim to transform the race week into a comprehensive festival with concerts and cultural and artistic events. Expressing that the night museum practice has produced results beyond expectations, Ersoy said that similar efforts have begun in Italy and Greece, and that in the coming period the practice will be expanded in areas close to city centers.