In the opening seven months of 2025, Turkish travelers disbursed a staggering $8.8 billion on overseas expeditions.

Record-Breaking Overseas Spending by Turkish Tourists

Turkish citizens have been venturing abroad in droves, with a fivefold increase in overseas card spending over the past two years. According to recent data, Turkish tourists made 12.5 million trips abroad during the first seven months of 2025, marking a 7.3% increase from the same period in the previous year.

The surge in spending by Turkish tourists abroad was primarily driven by rising costs at home and the resumption of international travel following the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger travelers, particularly those under 30, have been at the forefront of this trend, with increased train connections within Europe facilitating cross-border travel.

For instance, new rail routes between Germany and Poland have made it easier for Turkish travelers to explore Europe. The increased mobility has led to a significant increase in foreign travel, with Turkish tourists spending $8.8 billion abroad with credit cards during the first seven months of 2025, an increase of 65.6% from the same period in 2024. The number of overseas transactions by Turkish citizens also grew, from 212 million in 2024 to 277 million in the same period this year.

Monthly data from the summer months showed steady growth in spending by Turkish tourists abroad. In July 2025, Turkish citizens spent $1.53 billion abroad, up from $1.40 billion in June and $1.36 billion in May. This represents a ninefold increase in overseas card spending over four years, with the total overseas card spending in July 2025 reaching ₺63.2 billion ($1.53 billion), a 67% increase from ₺37.8 billion ($0.92 billion) in July 2024.

In addition, there were 44.3 million payments abroad in July 2025, up from 34.6 million a year earlier. This increase in overseas spending has been amplified by a 17% depreciation of the Turkish lira against the U.S. dollar since the start of 2025.

Hotel and restaurant inflation in Turkey eased to 34% in August 2025, down from a peak of 95.8% in April 2024. This decrease in domestic inflation may have contributed to the increased overseas spending by Turkish tourists.

Data from the Culture and Tourism Ministry also showed an increase in the number of Turkish tourists traveling abroad. As Turkish tourists continue to explore the world, it will be interesting to see how this trend develops in the coming months and years.