According to data released by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, a staggering 17.37 million foreign tourists explored Istanbul in 2023, marking an impressive 8.4% increase compared to the previous year.
Russia emerged as the leading contributor to Istanbul’s tourist influx, with nearly 1.99 million Russians making their way to the city. Germany followed closely behind, securing the second spot with 1.28 million visitors, while Iran claimed the third position with over one million guests. Rounding out the top ten were the United States, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Iraq, and Uzbekistan, each contributing significantly to Istanbul’s thriving tourism sector.
In December alone, more than 1.3 million travelers graced Istanbul’s streets. Notably, Russians dominated the December arrivals, accounting for 11.2% of the total foreign tourist flow, followed by Germany and Iran. Other prominent contributors to December’s tourism boom included the United Kingdom and the United States.
