Foreign tourists flocked to Antalya hotels, reaching a staggering figure of 2.7 million in June, a number equivalent to thecity's entire population.
In a surprising turn of events, the tourism sector in Turkey's Antalya province defied the national trend in June 2025, recording a growth in overnight stays and hotel occupancy rates, despite a decline in the country as a whole.
The total number of overnight stays in Antalya reached 25.27 million in June, with foreign tourists accounting for 68.33% of the total. A staggering 2.69 million foreign visitors flocked to the city, a figure equivalent to its resident population. This surge was primarily driven by several key factors.
Record-breaking airport traffic and transport infrastructure played a significant role in attracting international tourists. Antalya Airport handled nearly 5 million passengers in June, thanks to recent expansions and improved connectivity to over 100 global destinations. The city's enhanced local tourism infrastructure and diverse attractions also contributed to its appeal. Antalya invested heavily in upgrading roads, public transport, and digital services, while its range of attractions—from historic sites to new eco-tourism and beach clubs—catered to a wide variety of tastes.
The city's resilience amid global and regional challenges was another factor. Despite inflation and regional conflicts affecting the wider tourism sector, Antalya maintained strong visitor numbers, partly due to heavy demand from domestic tourists and key international markets such as Russians, Germans, and British tourists.
Antalya achieved the highest hotel occupancy rate in Turkey at 84.35%, far above the nationwide average which fell from 61.95% to 57.83%. This high demand was reflected in the average length of stay, which increased from 2.85 days to 2.91 days in June 2025.
While the overall foreign arrivals in Turkey from January to June 2025 fell 1.13% to 21.4 million, Antalya recorded a 69.45% hotel occupancy rate with 108,374 foreign visitors, and Mugla had a 65.61% occupancy rate with 506,596 visitors. Aydin led in average overnight stays by foreign visitors at 4.94 nights, followed by Antalya at 4.36 nights and Mugla at 3.44 nights.
However, the tourism industry in Turkey is reported to be sounding an alarm over falling visitor numbers, as indicated by the headline 'The real quake in prices'. Despite the success in Antalya, the industry is grappling with challenges, and it remains to be seen how these trends will continue in the future.
In June 2025, Turkey generated $25.6 billion in tourism revenue, a testament to the sector's continued importance to the country's economy. Nevertheless, the focus for the industry will be on sustaining the growth in Antalya and addressing the broader challenges facing the sector.
[1] Source: Antalya Airport traffic data [2] Source: Tourism investment and infrastructure upgrades in Antalya [3] Source: Foreign visitor numbers and hotel occupancy rates in Antalya and Mugla [4] Source: Tourism revenue data for June 2025 [5] Source: Regional and global challenges affecting the tourism sector in Turkey
- The resurgence in Turkey's tourism sector, particularly in Antalya, was not confined to domestic tourists, as Russians, Germans, and British tourists also significantly contributed to the surge in foreign visitors.
- Antalya's thriving tourism sector has been bolstered by improved infrastructure, with the city's airport handling almost 5 million passengers in June 2025, boasting connectivity to over 100 global destinations.
- The financial implications of Turkey's tourism boom are substantial, with the sector generating an impressive $25.6 billion in revenue in June 2025 alone, as reported by various sources.
- Antalya's investment in upgrading roads, public transport, and digital services, coupled with its diverse range of attractions, has made it an inviting destination for travelers seeking a mix of history, eco-tourism, and beach experiences.
