ANKARA, Türkiye / AsiaWire.IO / – According to the draft of its 2027 central government budget, Turkey aims to secure the position of the sixth-highest-earning tourism nation worldwide. Anadolu Agency reported that the proposed budget allocates $244.5 million to tourism, up from $188.4 million this year. This increased funding aligns with a revenue goal of $70 billion set for 2027. The sector’s budget would grow by nearly 30% under this plan.
The planned increase is consistent with Ankara’s Medium-Term Programme, or MTP, which establishes tourism revenue targets of $70 billion in 2027, $73.5 billion in 2028, and $78.5 billion in 2029. This trajectory suggests gains of $3.5 billion and then $5 billion over the next two years. By 2029, annual tourism earnings are projected to be roughly 20% higher than the record level achieved last year.
Tourism revenue reached a historic $65.2 billion in the previous year. Ankara initially aimed for $68 billion in 2026 but later revised that goal down to $65 billion. Officials cited ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, along with issues in the Middle East, as reasons for the revision. The new target for 2027 exceeds the revised 2026 figure by $5 billion and is about $4.8 billion higher than last year’s record.
Expected rise in revenue ranking to sixth place
The projections for ranking improvements are supported by global tourism revenue data from the World Tourism Organisation. Türkiye is forecasted to finish seventh this year and advance to sixth position in 2027 as revenue increases. If the country meets its $70 billion goal and climbs the rankings, later estimates suggest it could reach fifth place by 2028. Each step would place Türkiye among a smaller group of the world’s leading tourism earners.
Türkiye has seen rapid progress in global tourism rankings since 2017. It moved from 15th to seventh place in tourism revenue during that period. In terms of total tourist arrivals, the country advanced from eighth to fourth place. Forecasts indicate Türkiye will maintain its fourth-place position in arrivals from 2027 through 2029. These rankings confirm the country’s status as one of the most visited destinations worldwide.
Goals for the WEF Travel and Tourism Development Index rise to 33rd by 2029
Another objective for the government is to improve 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 in the index. Ankara plans to advance to 35th place in 2027, then to 34th in 2028, and finally to 33rd in 2029. The index evaluates factors and policies that support the growth of national travel and tourism sectors.
Together, the targets for revenue, arrivals, and index rankings are designed to elevate Türkiye’s position as a leading global travel destination. The increased 2027 budget provides the sector with additional resources to achieve these ambitions. This follows a year marked by regional conflicts that affected tourism outlooks. Final data for 2026 will reveal how closely the sector approaches its revised $65 billion goal.