ANKARA, Türkiye / AsiaWire.IO / – According to its 2027 central government budget draft, Türkiye is aiming to rank as the sixth-highest-earning nation in global tourism, with a significant increase in allocated funds. Anadolu Agency noted that the draft proposes a tourism budget of $244.5 million, surpassing this year’s $188.4 million. This increased funding aligns with a targeted tourism revenue of $70 billion by 2027, representing an almost 30% rise in sector funding under the plan.
This budget increase is consistent with Ankara’s Medium-Term Programme, or MTP, which sets ambitious tourism revenue goals of $70 billion in 2027, followed by $73.5 billion in 2028 and $78.5 billion in 2029. Such a trajectory suggests incremental gains of $3.5 billion and $5 billion respectively in the subsequent two years, leading to an estimated 20% growth over last year’s record of $65.2 billion in tourism earnings by 2029. The initial target for 2026 was $68 billion, but it was later revised down to $65 billion, with officials citing ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East as reasons for the adjustment. The new 2027 goal exceeds the revised 2026 figure by $5 billion and last year’s record by approximately $4.8 billion.
Projected Rise to Sixth Place in Tourism Revenue
The rankings are supported by data from the World Tourism Organization, which indicates that Türkiye is expected to move from seventh place this year to sixth in 2027 as its revenue grows. If the country reaches its $70 billion target and improves its position, projections suggest it could climb to fifth place by 2028. Each advancement would place Türkiye among a smaller group of the world’s leading tourism income earners.
Türkiye has made rapid progress in the global tourism rankings since 2017, moving from 15th to seventh in tourism revenue during that period, while its total tourist arrivals advanced from eighth to fourth place. Forecasts indicate that Türkiye will maintain its fourth-place standing in arrivals from 2027 through 2029, solidifying its position among the most visited destinations worldwide.
Goals to Improve Türkiye’s Position in WEF Travel and Tourism Index to 33rd by 2029
The government also aims to enhance Türkiye’s standing in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index, or TTDI, which last year ranked the country 36th. The plan is to move up to 35th in 2027, then to 34th in 2028, and ultimately reach 33rd place in 2029. The TTDI measures various factors and policies that foster the development of a nation’s travel and tourism sectors.
The combined objectives of increasing revenue, boosting arrivals, and climbing the TTDI index are intended to elevate Türkiye’s status as a leading global travel destination. The expanded 2027 budget provides the sector with additional resources to achieve these ambitions. This initiative follows a year marked by regional conflicts that dampened tourism expectations, and final data for 2026 will reveal how closely the sector approaches its revised $65 billion target.