ANKARA, Türkiye / AsiaWire.IO / – Türkiye aims to rank as the sixth-highest global earner in tourism income, supported by an increased budget allocation for the industry in 2027. The draft of the 2027 central government budget allocates $244.5 million for tourism, an increase from $188.4 million this year, Anadolu Agency reported. This roughly $56.1 million rise, nearly 30%, is aligned with the country’s latest revenue ambitions. Ankara is targeting $70 billion in tourism earnings in the upcoming year.
The budget plan is in harmony with Türkiye’s Medium-Term Programme, which outlines tourism revenue goals for the next three years. After reaching $70 billion in 2027, the program projects $73.5 billion for 2028 and $78.5 billion for 2029. These targets involve an increase of $3.5 billion in 2028 and an additional $5 billion in 2029. Achieving the 2029 goal would result in about a 20% rise in annual earnings compared to last year’s figures.
Last year, Türkiye achieved a record-breaking performance with $65.2 billion in tourism revenue. Nonetheless, the initial 2026 target of $68 billion was revised downward to $65 billion, reflecting the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East. The 2027 goal of $70 billion would surpass last year’s record by approximately $4.8 billion and the revised 2026 target by $5 billion.
Ankara aims to improve its global tourism standing
Türkiye is projected to move from a seventh-place position in global tourism revenue this year to sixth place in 2027. This forecast is based on data from the World Tourism Organisation. If Türkiye meets its $70 billion target next year and advances in the rankings, further projections suggest it could reach fifth place by 2028. These ranking objectives are a key component of the 2027 sector budget plan.
Since 2017, Türkiye has made significant progress in global rankings. Over that period, Türkiye advanced from 15th to seventh in global tourism revenue. It also climbed from eighth to fourth in total tourist arrivals. Officials anticipate Türkiye will maintain its fourth-place position in arrivals throughout 2027 to 2029. The arrivals ranking confirms Türkiye as one of the most visited countries worldwide.
Travel and Tourism Development Index targets extend through 2029
Ankara also seeks to enhance its position in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index. Last year, Türkiye finished 36th in the index. The government’s targets are 35th place in 2027, 34th in 2028, and 33rd by 2029. The index evaluates the policies and factors that influence the growth of travel and tourism sectors across nations.
These combined aims are designed to further solidify Türkiye’s reputation as a top global travel destination. The 2027 budget increase provides the tourism industry with additional resources as the country pursues higher revenue and improved rankings. This strategy follows a year marked by regional conflicts that led to a downward revision of revenue expectations. Final 2026 figures will reveal how closely the sector approaches its revised $65 billion target.