Tourism Revenue Increased by 3.9% in Q3
In the third quarter of 2024, tourism revenue increased by 3.9% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. According to the statement made by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), tourism revenue reached 23 billion 219 million 751 thousand dollars during the third quarter, which consists of July, August, and September. 14.7% of the tourism revenue came from foreign-resident citizens visiting our country.
Visitors organized their travels through personal arrangements or package tours. In this quarter, personal expenditures accounted for 15 billion 77 million 957 thousand dollars, while package tour expenditures amounted to 8 billion 141 million 794 thousand dollars.
The number of visitors increased by 3.5% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The number of visitors who exited the country in the third quarter of 2024 rose to 23 million 206 thousand 579, marking a 3.5% increase from the same quarter last year. 12.2% of the visitors, or 2 million 835 thousand 74 people, were citizens residing abroad.
In this quarter, the average expenditure per night for the visitors exiting our country was 95 dollars, while the average expenditure per night for citizens residing abroad was 62 dollars.
In the third quarter of 2024, the share of package tour expenditures in tourism revenue was 35.1%, food and beverage expenditures accounted for 17.9%, and international transportation expenditures made up 10.9%. Compared to the same period of the previous year, package tour expenditures increased by 18%, while food and beverage expenditures and international transportation expenditures decreased by 2.2% and 7.6%, respectively.
Visitors mainly came for "travel, entertainment, sports, and cultural activities" at 71.6%, followed by "visiting relatives and friends" at 19.4%, and "shopping" at 4%. Foreign-resident citizens primarily visited our country for "visiting relatives and friends" at 69.6%.
Tourism expenditure decreased by 22.5% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The tourism expenditure stemming from our citizens residing in the country who visited other countries amounted to 1 billion 874 million 216 thousand dollars, reflecting a 22.5% decrease from the same quarter last year. Of this, 1 billion 517 million 780 thousand dollars were personal expenditures, and 356 million 436 thousand dollars were package tour expenditures.
The number of citizens visiting abroad increased by 10.3% compared to the third quarter of 2023. In this quarter, the number of citizens visiting abroad rose to 3 million 286 thousand 105, and their average expenditure per person was recorded at 570 dollars.