ANKARA, Türkiye / AsiaWire.IO / – Türkiye has targeted becoming the sixth-highest-earning tourism nation worldwide, according to its 2027 central government budget draft. Anadolu Agency reported that the draft designates $244.5 million for tourism, up from $188.4 million this year. This increased budget supports a revenue goal of $70 billion in 2027. The plan proposes nearly a 30% rise in sector funding.
This allocation aligns with Ankara’s Medium-Term Programme, or MTP, which sets tourism revenue targets of $70 billion in 2027, $73.5 billion in 2028, and $78.5 billion in 2029. The plan indicates an increase of $3.5 billion in the next year and $5 billion in the following two years. By 2029, the country’s annual tourism income could be roughly 20% higher than the record level achieved last year.
Tourism revenue reached an all-time high of $65.2 billion last year. Initially, Ankara aimed for $68 billion in 2026 but revised that goal downward to $65 billion. Officials explained that the revision was due to ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, as well as tensions in the Middle East. The new 2027 target is $5 billion above the adjusted 2026 figure and approximately $4.8 billion higher than last year’s record.
Projected to climb to sixth place in revenue rankings
The World Tourism Organization’s data on global tourism revenue support these ranking projections. Türkiye is anticipated to rank seventh this year and move up to sixth in 2027 as its revenues grow. If the country attains its $70 billion goal and advances in the rankings, future projections suggest it could reach fifth place by 2028. Each step would position Türkiye among the world’s leading tourism revenue earners.
Türkiye has made rapid progress in global tourism standings since 2017. It advanced from 15th to seventh place in tourism revenue during that period. In total tourist arrivals, the country moved from eighth to fourth place. Projections indicate Türkiye will maintain its fourth-place position in arrivals from 2027 through 2029. These rankings place the country among the most visited destinations worldwide.
Goals for WEF Travel and Tourism Index extend to 33rd place by 2029
The government also seeks to enhance Türkiye’s standing in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index, or TTDI. Last year, the country was projected to rank 36th. Ankara plans to move up to 35th in 2027, then 34th in 2028, and reach 33rd in 2029. The index evaluates factors and policies that foster the growth of national travel and tourism sectors.
Together, these targets for revenue, visitor numbers, and index ranking aim to solidify Türkiye’s role as a leading global travel destination. The expanded 2027 budget provides additional resources to pursue these ambitions. It follows a year marked by regional conflicts that tempered tourism expectations. Final figures for 2026 will reveal how closely the sector approaches its revised $65 billion goal.