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Türkiye's Mediterranean tourism hub Antalya is heading into the fall with strong hotel bookings after welcoming more than 8.6 million foreign tourists since the start of the year.
Major international events are expected to help stretch the tourism season through November.
Tourism activity began picking up in June across Antalya, known for its beaches, coves, natural attractions and wide range of accommodation options.
Occupancy at five-star hotels in major tourism areas including Belek, Kundu, Kemer and Alanya has climbed above 90%, while August hotels across the region are reported to be full.
Although Antalya remains around 7% behind last year's foreign visitor figures, tourism officials say the market has recovered from a difficult start to the year and could make up part of that gap during the fall.
Two large international gatherings are expected to help keep tourism activity going beyond the traditional summer period. Antalya will host the International Space Congress (IAC 2026) in October, followed by the 31st session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP31, in November.
Antalya Governor Hulusi Sahin said geopolitical developments had weighed on tourism earlier in the year, particularly during April and May, but added that the sector had since bounced back and was now close to last year's levels.
"Tourism figures are moving at last year's levels. There is a positive picture in tourism," Sahin said, adding that major events scheduled through the end of December could help Antalya recover the visitors lost during the spring.
Sahin said COP31 alone was expected to bring more than 100,000 guests, while the International Space Congress and other events would also contribute to extending the season.
Ercan Cek, vice president of the Professional Hotel Managers Association (POYD), said the tourism industry had entered the season with concerns because of global and regional developments, but summer demand had ultimately lived up to expectations.
August hotel occupancy across the region was full, Cek said, adding that Antalya could match, or even surpass, last year's August figures. He also noted that September, October and November had a strong lineup of events that could further support tourism demand.
Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland remain Antalya's leading foreign tourism markets, while domestic tourism has also picked up, with local visitor numbers rising 9% by the end of July.
Emre Yaman, sales and marketing director at The X Belek Hotel in the Belek Tourism Center, said tourism activity had been rising since early July, while bookings for August through November were also running at strong levels.
He said both IAC 2026 and COP31 would support demand in Antalya, alongside favorable weather and a schedule of meetings and seminars.
"We expect to have a good season until the end of November," Yaman said, adding that these factors had effectively allowed Antalya's tourism season to stretch comfortably through late fall.
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