Cruise Ship Arrivals Boost Turkish Tourism in 2024

Record Number of Cruise Passengers in Turkish Ports

Approximately 1.85 million cruise passengers have visited Turkish ports in the first 11 months of 2024, marking a significant increase from the previous year's 1.52 million.

Increased Ship Visits to Turkish Ports

According to data released by the Transport Ministry, a total of 1,167 cruise ships made port calls in Turkey from January to November this year.

Busiest Month and Top Destinations

September stood out as the busiest month with 195 cruise ships docking at Turkish ports, a stark contrast to the mere five ships that arrived in February.

Popular Ports and Visitor Numbers

Kuşadası, located in the Aegean region, emerged as the most visited port, hosting 520 cruise ships carrying 818,000 passengers during the same 11-month period.

Ranking of Ports by Ship and Passenger Numbers

Istanbul secured the second spot with 195 ships and 427,000 passengers, followed by Bodrum on the Aegean coast with 97 ships and 118,000 travelers.

Çeşme Port's Attraction for Cruise Ships

Çeşme attracted 73 cruise ships with 54,000 passengers in the January-November period, solidifying its place as a sought-after destination.

November Figures Decline Compared to Last Year

In November, the number of visiting cruise ships dropped from 95 to 55, with passenger numbers decreasing from 124,000 to slightly over 84,000, based on ministry data.

Continued Growth in Cruise Tourism

In 2023, 1,192 cruise ships visited Turkey, carrying 1.54 million passengers, a significant rise from 2022's 993 ships and 1.01 million passengers.