Foreign Tourist Expenditures in Turkey Increased by 9 Percent

Mastercard's Tourism Spending Report

Mastercard shared its latest research examining the spending trends of tourists coming to Turkey and those traveling abroad. According to the report covering the summer periods of 2024 and 2025, the total spending amount of individual foreign card payments increased by 6% compared to last year, while the number of transactions saw a rise of 9%.

Spending Data of Turkish Tourists Traveling Abroad

In 2025, the spending of tourists going from Turkey abroad increased by 28%. The number of transactions also recorded a rise of 25%. The highest increase was observed particularly in July.

Turkmenistan at the Top: Highest Spending Increase in Summer 2025

According to the research, the countries with the highest spending using Mastercard-branded cards in Turkey are, in order: United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Austria, Switzerland, and Sweden. Among these countries, the highest growth was seen in Austrian spending at 20%, while the country with the most significant increase in spending volume was Turkmenistan, recorded at 139%.

Sectoral Spending Increases

When examining the spending of foreign cardholders by sector, the areas with the most growth were found to be various food, market, and jewelry sectors. For example, tourists from the United Kingdom made their highest purchases in Antalya, while the spending of Turkish tourists going to Germany in Istanbul increased by 13%.

Spending Trends of Turkish Tourists Abroad

The countries where Turkish tourists traveling abroad spend the most include Greece, United Kingdom, and Italy. The country with the highest spending was identified as Japan, with a growth rate of 119%.

Most Spending by Sectors

Turkish tourists traveling abroad experienced a 30% increase in their spending in the clothing sector, while the growth rate in the health sector was 79%. Dedeagac in Greece was the city with the highest spending, while spending in Feres saw a 456% increase.