FX.co ★ Turkey’s Foreign Tourist Decline Eases in May, Signaling Tentative Recovery

Turkey’s foreign arrivals showed signs of stabilization in May 2026, with the year-over-year decline narrowing notably compared with the previous month, according to data updated on 22 June 2026.

Foreign visitor numbers fell 3.58% in May 2026 versus the same month a year earlier, a marked improvement from April 2026, when arrivals were down 9.44% year-over-year. The data suggest that while Turkey’s tourism sector is still operating below last year’s levels, the pace of contraction is slowing as the peak summer season approaches.

The month-on-month moderation in the decline points to a tentative recovery in external demand, which is closely watched given tourism’s importance for Turkey’s foreign currency earnings and broader economic outlook. Investors and policymakers will now look to the coming months to see whether the improving trend in foreign arrivals can be sustained.