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Türkiye aims to steadily expand cruise traffic over the next three years, targeting 2,000 ships annually by 2028, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.
The upward trend seen in 2025 is expected to continue, with cruise ship arrivals projected to reach 1,500 by the end of 2026 and 1,750 in 2027, according to ministry projections.
Türkiye continues to invest in infrastructure and streamline trade processes to better utilize its tourism potential, Uraloglu told state-run Anadolu Agency, noting that transport and tourism remain closely linked sectors supporting economic and social development.
"Türkiye has moved beyond being just a stopover and has become a main destination in cruise tourism," he said, noting that cruise passengers contribute to local economies through spending on food, retail, and cultural activities.
Homeport operations—where passengers embark or disembark—also generate additional value through logistics and tourism services.
Authorities are working to strengthen Türkiye’s role in Mediterranean cruise tourism by improving service standards and coordinating with industry stakeholders, Uraloglu said, adding that the goal is to position the country as one of the leading cruise hubs in the region.
Turkish ports hosted 1,375 cruise ship calls in 2025, marking a 15.1% increase compared to the previous year, while passenger numbers rose by 13.2% to reach 2.13 million, surpassing the 2 million mark for the first time since 2013.
Kusadasi ranked as Türkiye’s busiest cruise port with 617 ship calls, followed by Istanbul ports with 265 and Bodrum with 116.
Passenger traffic followed the same pattern, with Kusadasi handling 995,843 passengers, Istanbul ports 625,517, and Bodrum 138,166 over the same period.
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