Istanbul, Jan 7:
Firuz Bağlıkaya, the head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), unveiled ambitious
plans for Istanbul’s tourism, targeting a whopping 20 million foreign visitors.
Bağlıkaya highlighted the city’s global appeal, citing tourist influx from over 200 nations, with Russia,
Germany, the US, and the UK among the leading contributors to the tourism surge.
In a recent statement, Bağlıkaya reported an estimated 17 million tourists in 2023, showcasing Istanbul’s
allure as a cultural and gastronomic haven. He emphasized the city’s culinary scene, citing 76 Michelin
Guide-listed restaurants and a robust museum culture that attracted 5.8 million visitors across 86
museums in 2022.
The city’s maritime tourism also thrived, with 219 cruise ships docking in Istanbul during the first 11
months of 2023, welcoming over 392,000 visitors. Bağlıkaya highlighted efforts to streamline tourist
experiences, including plans to expedite travel from the port to the historic peninsula, bypassing traffic
congestion and optimizing visitors’ time.
Beyond traditional tourism, Bağlıkaya underscored Istanbul’s burgeoning status as a medical tourism
hub, boasting 188 hospitals, 79 medical centers, and 435 certified clinics and outpatient facilities. The
number of travel agencies specializing in health tourism has surged to 590, reflecting the city’s growth in
this niche sector.
