Turkey’s Culinary Tourism Boosts Food Spending to $5.9 Billion, Up 9% YoY

In the first half of the year, Turkey demonstrated the scale of its gastronomic market by generating $5.904 billion in food and beverage spending from tourism, a 9 % year‑over‑year increase.

A Delicious Upswing

■Total tourism revenue for the first six months reached $25.746 billion.

■Food and beverage spending hit $5.904 billion; last year’s figure for the same period was $5.427 billion.

■This reflects a ≈ 9 % growth.

Fashion and Souvenirs Add Flavor

■Apparel and footwear purchases totaled $2.196 billion.

■Souvenir sales amounted to $890 million.

■Sports, education, and culture generated $248 million.

■Other expenditures contributed $617 million.

Multi‑Faceted Market Profile

■Food and beverage accounted for ≈ 23 % of total tourism revenue.

■Apparel and footwear comprised ≈ 8 %.

■Souvenirs added ≈ 3 %.

Fatih Kılıç: The 9 % rise in tourist food spending showcases Turkey’s culinary appeal on the global stage, acting as a powerful driver for the overall tourism economy. Sustaining this growth will hinge on elevating quality, service, and digital marketing strategies across the sector.