Turkish cruise industry set to outperform last year

ANTALYA

Türkiye’s cruise tourism sector is riding a wave of growth, with industry leaders reporting stronger reservations for 2026 compared to last year.

According to data from the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry, the number of cruise passengers arriving at Turkish ports in 2025 rose by 13.2 percent from the previous year, reaching 2.14 million. Cruise ship calls also increased by 15.1 percent to 1,375, marking a record-breaking year for the industry.

Nilda Türe, general manager of a cruise company, highlighted that global cruise passenger numbers reached 38 million last year, with Türkiye accounting for 2 million. Kuşadası Port welcomed about 1 million passengers, while Istanbul ports received nearly 700,000, Türe noted. “Looking ahead to 2026, we see significant growth worldwide. Cruise demand is rising faster than in other markets, and Türkiye is benefiting from this momentum,” she said.

Türe noted that German, Austrian and Latin American travelers formed the bulk of last year’s visitors, many of whom combined Anatolian tours with trips to Greek islands. She emphasized that domestic interest is also climbing, with Turkish passengers now making up nearly half of the market. “We clearly see this in 2026 sales. Reservations look much stronger than last year, both from local and international guests,” she added.

Antalya Chamber of Shipping Chairman Ahmet Çetin pointed out that Antalya and Alanya ports hosted 41 cruise ships last year, up from 38 in 2024, but still below the region’s potential.

Stressing Antalya’s importance as a tourism hub, he expressed optimism that the coming years will bring higher numbers.