Istanbul sets record with nearly 7 million foreign visitors in first five months of 2024

Türkiye's Istanbul received nearly 7 million foreign visitors in the first five months of this year, setting a new record for foreign arrivals, according to data released by the Culture and Tourism Ministry on Wednesday.

The data showed that the number of foreign visitors to Istanbul increased by 10.31 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.

The metropolis welcomed 1.7 million foreign travelers in May alone, marking an 11.48 percent rise from last year and the highest number for the month.

In May, the largest number of visitors to Istanbul came from Russia, followed by Germany, the United States, and Iran, according to the data.

Meanwhile, in separate data, the ministry reported that from January to May, Türkiye welcomed a total of 15.8 million foreign visitors, up by 12.47 percent from the same period of the previous year.

Türkiye aims for 60 million foreign tourists and 60 billion U.S. dollars in tourism revenue throughout this year.