1.4 Million Turks Expected to Visit Greece in 2025

Turks are expected to visit Greece in record numbers this year, according to a new report by the Turkish Hoteliers Association (TÜROB).

The 2025 forecast estimates that 1.4 million Turkish travelers will head to Greece, while 800,000 Greek tourists are expected to visit Turkey.

These figures reflect a continued upswing in cross-border tourism, building on momentum from the previous year when 1.2 million Turks visited Greece and 707,000 Greeks came to Turkey.

TÜROB’s Research Highlights Bilateral Growth

The report follows TÜROB’s recent study of the Greek tourism market, conducted after the “GoTurkiye Destination Promotion Event” held in Athens and Thessaloniki. The study shows strong mutual interest in tourism exchange and identifies new areas for collaboration, with projections suggesting the combined number of visitors between the two countries could exceed 3 million in 2025.

Müberra Eresin, President of TÜROB, emphasized that realizing this potential depends heavily on expanding and optimizing transportation links. “This goal can only be achieved through more efficient travel alternatives,” she said, pointing to the importance of fast and affordable connectivity.

Transport: The Key to Expansion

TÜROB’s report underscores that transportation is a crucial barrier and opportunity for growth. Recommendations include:

• Maintaining and enhancing reciprocal promotional campaigns.
• Accelerating the development of high-speed train connections, especially between Istanbul and Thessaloniki.
• Increasing low-cost flight options, particularly from Athens and Thessaloniki.
• Promoting ferry routes across the Aegean Sea for short-haul tourism.

One recent positive development is SkyExpress Airlines’ launch of direct flights between Turkey and Greece, which is helping to close the gap in affordable travel.

Where Tourists Are Going

The report provides detailed insights into preferred destinations. Turkish tourists heading to Greece are drawn to popular Greek islands and coastal cities, while Greek tourists favor the following Turkish destinations:

• Istanbul
• Edirne
• Cappadocia
• Bursa
• Ayvalık
• İzmir
• Trabzon

These regions reflect a shared appetite for culture, heritage, and coastal leisure, supported by religious and gastronomy tourism trends.

Travel Trends and Economic Impact

In 2024, 1.2 million Turkish tourists contributed nearly €1 billion to Greece’s tourism economy. On the Greek side, 707,000 visitors came to Turkey, a number expected to increase significantly this year. The largest sources of international tourists to Greece in 2024 were:

Greece remains the second most visited international destination for Turkish citizens, thanks to its accessibility and shared cultural affinities.

Greek Visitor Numbers to Turkey: Year-by-Year

TÜROB’s report also highlights a steady rebound in the number of Greek travelers coming to Turkey following the pandemic. Although the highest level was seen in 2019, recent years show promising recovery:

The data illustrates a robust recovery trajectory, suggesting that 2025 could surpass pre-pandemic levels if current trends continue.

Strategic Collaboration Through Workshops and Events

The TÜROB report also recaps the collaborative “GoTurkiye Destination Promotion Event” in Thessaloniki and Athens. Co-hosted by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), and Greek tourism authorities, the workshops focused on enhancing mutual awareness and creating new marketing synergies. Key participants included:

• Turkish Ambassador to Athens Çağatay Erciyes
• Consul General in Thessaloniki Serkan Gedik
• Cultural Attaché Prof. Dr. Veli Aydın
• TGA Country Marketing Director Zeynep Üçok Çelikağ
• FedHATTA President Lysandros Tsilidis

Müberra Eresin stressed the need for continued joint promotional campaigns and thanked both national tourism organizations for their support of bilateral tourism growth.

What the Future Holds

There is growing consensus that the tourism products of Turkey and Greece are not rivals but complements. Tour operators and tourism boards are encouraged to develop dual-country packages, especially for visitors coming from long-haul markets like Asia and North America. TÜROB believes such packages—blending Greek islands with Cappadocia or Athens with Istanbul—could significantly boost visitor numbers for both countries.

Additional potential lies in expanding cruise and faith tourism cooperation, where combined itineraries could offer religious and cultural travelers more value and depth. Yet, bureaucratic delays in approving religious ceremonies in Turkey, especially in Cappadocia, remain a hurdle that the report urges local tourism offices to address quickly.

Looking ahead, TÜROB views the upcoming Philoxenia Tourism Fair in Thessaloniki in November 2025 as a critical venue for reinforcing Turkey’s visibility in the Greek market. The organization is calling on Turkish tourism stakeholders to participate actively and seize the opportunity to deepen ties with Greek partners.

In conclusion, the upward trend in cross-border tourism between Turkey and Greece presents economic, cultural, and diplomatic opportunities. With enhanced connectivity, joint promotions, and coordinated strategies, both countries stand to benefit from a flourishing tourism relationship that could set a new standard in regional cooperation.