E-Haberler 
Antalya, one of the important players in the tourism sector, ended the year with a significant success. The city witnessed a record number of tourists arriving by air in December and surprisingly hosted 121,139 foreign visitors during the New Year week, making it a hot spot during the festival season.
Both airports in Antalya experienced a busy influx of tourists during the week of New Year, from December 23rd to 30th, and set a historic record in visitor numbers during this period. Antalya, one of the leading tourism centers in the Mediterranean, hosted a total of 121,139 tourists by air during this holiday season.
According to the data from the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the number of tourists arriving by air in December increased by 7% compared to the previous year, reaching 302,505 people. This represents an increase of approximately 32% compared to the record-breaking year of 2019, when 227,701 tourists arrived, indicating a strong recovery in the tourism sector.
These figures indicate the highest data recorded at the international terminals of Antalya and Gazipaşa airports in December. Hakan Saatçioğlu, the President of the Professional Hotel Managers Association, celebrated the record-breaking year in the tourism sector. Despite the challenges brought by the earthquake, he emphasized the resilience and forward-looking perspective of the industry, expressing optimism about the future.
While acknowledging the sudden impact of the earthquake on concerns, Saatçioğlu maintained an optimistic outlook for the future. He highlighted Turkey and Antalya’s rapid recovery, surpassing the set targets for the year, especially in post-15 July reservations.
Saatçioğlu acknowledged the sudden impact of global events such as economic crises, wars, and tense situations on the tourism industry. He particularly emphasized the significant recovery in these markets, with over 5 million tourists coming from Russia to Turkey this year, highlighting the direct impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Turkey.
While the tourism sector continues to be sensitive to global events, Antalya’s resilience and adaptability demonstrated during its record-breaking December position it optimistically for the next year. The rapid recovery and positive indicators reflect the city’s commitment to reclaiming its status as a leading destination in the Mediterranean.
