Number of Tourists in Istanbul in 2021

New data shows that 5,829,920 tourists in Istanbul arrived during the first nine months. This huge number breaks the record set last year.

Local culture and tourism officials just released the latest visitor numbers. They tracked where people came from and how they entered the city. According to this data, over 5.8 million people visited the city in nine months. In September, Iranians were the largest group, followed closely by Russians.

September was a busy month with 975,916 visitors. That is a 111% increase compared to the same month last year. Most people chose to fly, as air travel jumped by 112%. About 687,171 people used the main Istanbul Airport. Another 284,328 travelers flew into Sabiha Gökçen. A few thousand people also arrived by sea at ports like Tuzla, Zeytinburnu, and Ambarlı. Even small ports like Haydarpaşa and Marmara saw some action. You can see how the number of tourists in Turkey is growing fast.

Most travelers preferred the main Istanbul Airport. It handled 70% of all arrivals by air. Sabiha Gökçen Airport served the other 29% of visitors.

Russian citizens made up the largest share of visitors early in the year. In January, they accounted for nearly 15% of all arrivals. March saw the highest activity in the first quarter at 16.03%. These numbers show a steady interest in the city during the cooler months.

During the summer, German visitors took the lead. July was the busiest summer month, making up almost 13% of the yearly total. June and August also saw strong numbers. It’s clear that European travelers love visiting the city during the holiday season.

By September, the trend shifted again. Iranian citizens became the top visitor group, making up nearly 11% of all entries. Whether for shopping or sightseeing, these foreign visitors are helping the city reach new heights. It's an exciting time for anyone watching the growth of tourists in Istanbul this year.

Related Articles

• visa types in Turkey
• target for tourists in 2021
• tourists in Antalya exceeded 8 million

If you need a closer look here, see Why Edirne is the Preferred Destination / Related Articles.

If you need a closer look here, see Future Outlook for the Kapıköy Customs Gate / Related Articles.

If you need a closer look here, see Ambitious Revenue and Visitor Targets / Related Articles.