Türkiye closed 2025 with 64 million international visitors and $65.2 billion in tourism revenue, a record on both counts. This year the story has shifted. Arrivals softened slightly in the first half as Middle Eastern airspace closures dented demand, yet revenue held level, because guests are staying longer and spending more each night.
That is a luxury story, and it is why this issue is built around quality: a Featured DMC who handles everything from Cappadocia balloon flights to private aircraft, a ready-to-sell six-day journey, and a field guide to the table, from İstanbul’s MICHELIN-starred dining rooms to this month’s first lüfer of the season.
For DMCs ready to win in Britain, Türkiye’s third-largest market, our Starter UK Source Market Representation now begins at £350 a month.
Jo
Founder, DMCFinder
64MVisitors in 2025 4th in the world
$65.2BTourism revenue 2025 record
$109Spend per night H1 2026, up 2.6%
1.58MUK visitors Jan–Jun 2026
Sources: Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism; TÜİK (TurkStat).
The Briefing
What the trade needs to know
Market intelligence
Fewer arrivals, same revenue: Türkiye’s pivot to value
Türkiye welcomed 25.8 million international visitors in the first half of 2026, slightly down on last year, yet revenue held steady at $25.8 billion. Average stays now exceed ten nights and nightly spend rose to $109. Russia, Germany and the UK remain the top three source markets, and the government is targeting $68 billion in tourism revenue for the full year.
For DMCs: the money is moving toward longer, higher-touch, multi-region programmes. Package Istanbul with Cappadocia, the Aegean or the Riviera and sell the shoulder season hard.
Major events
Formula 1 returns to İstanbul, 1–3 October 2027
The Turkish Grand Prix is back on the calendar. Hospitality packages, yacht charters and incentive groups book first: start holding inventory now.
Luxury hotels
23 Turkish hotels earn MICHELIN Keys
One property took Three Keys, three took Two and nineteen took One, across İstanbul, İzmir, Cappadocia and Muğla. A new shortlist for discerning clients.
Recognition
A Cappadocia cave hotel makes TIME’s Greatest Places
Avantgarde Refined Caves of Cappadocia was named to TIME’s 2026 list for its heritage cave architecture and vast cavern spa.
This season
Autumn in İstanbul: marathon, music and lüfer
The 48th İstanbul Marathon crosses two continents on 1 November, while late October opens bluefish season on the Bosphorus.
Featured DMC · Türkiye
Tunga Tour
Making travel a worthwhile experience, as it should be.
Founded in 2018 by Ayşim Uslu and Barbaros Kıvrak, who bring fifteen and thirty years of industry experience respectively, Tunga Tour is a B2B destination management company based in Karaköy, on İstanbul’s European shore. It partners with travel agencies worldwide and is a member of both TÜRSAB and IATA.
The team handles the full spectrum: seat-in-coach and private touring, tailor-made packages, hotel and ticketing, Bosphorus yacht and Ottoman-night dinner cruises, Cappadocia balloon, horseback and ATV adventures, and private aircraft charters. On the MICE side, Tunga is the official agency for the biennial International Congress of the Turkish Society of Toxicology, and its health-tourism programmes run in partnership with leading hospitals including Memorial, Acıbadem and the American Hospital.
2018Founded, İstanbul
45 yrsFounders’ experience
24/7Ground support
Signature programmes
Istanbul Maharaja Tourtailored to Indian guests
4N/5D İstanbul & Cappadociahistory meets moonscape
6N/7D İstanbul, Cappadocia & Antalyacity, valley, Riviera
5N/6D İstanbul, Gallipoli & Troyfor history lovers
Why buyers should call them
One licensed partner for leisure, congress, health and VIP aviation, run from the heart of İstanbul, multilingual and on call around the clock.
Few countries compress this much into one journey. Breakfast on a Bosphorus terrace, the Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace before lunch, a sunset sail past Ottoman yalı mansions. Then a short flight to Cappadocia, where hundreds of balloons rise over fairy chimneys at dawn and dinner is served in rock-cut cellars. Beyond lie Ephesus, the Lycian coast and the blue bays of Bodrum, plus a hotel scene that now competes with the best in Europe, often at better value.
Autumn brings mild days, thinner crowds and better rates, the months travellers increasingly choose.
Year-round appeal
Culture routes, ski resorts, cruises and health tourism push demand well beyond summer.
A new luxury tier
MICHELIN Keys, a MICHELIN Guide and fresh openings put Türkiye on the premium map.
Effortless access
Under four hours from London, with İstanbul a global hub and short domestic hops to every region.
Ready-to-sell · Tailor-made luxury
Palaces & Fairy Chimneys: six days of modern Türkiye
Three nights on the Bosphorus, two in the valleys of Cappadocia. Private guides throughout, no queues, no coaches, and one signature moment every day. Fully customisable for couples, families and small groups.
İstanbul · 3 nightsOttoman waterfront mansions on the Bosphorus
Cappadocia · 2 nightsHot air balloons before sunrise
01
İstanbul · Arrival
VIP welcome & a Bosphorus sunset
Fast-track meet-and-greet at İstanbul Airport and a private transfer to a waterfront five-star in Karaköy or Beşiktaş. At golden hour, board a private yacht for a sail between Europe and Asia, passing Dolmabahçe Palace, the yalı mansions and Rumeli Fortress, with champagne and meze on deck.
02
İstanbul · Historic Peninsula
Empires, privately
An early start with a historian-guide: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace’s Harem and Treasury. Lunch at a lokanta favoured by locals, then a traditional hamam ritual. Evening at one of İstanbul’s MICHELIN-starred tables.
03
İstanbul · Bazaars & Beyoğlu
Artisans, spice and the modern city
A curated walk through the Grand Bazaar’s hidden hans and the Spice Bazaar, with introductions to master carpet, ceramic and jewellery makers. Afternoon for contemporary art in Karaköy and Galataport, then a meyhane dinner of meze and rakı.
04
Cappadocia · Valleys
Into the moonscape
Morning flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir and transfer to a boutique cave hotel in Uçhisar or Ürgüp. Private guiding at Göreme Open-Air Museum’s frescoed churches and the Paşabağ fairy chimneys. Sunset in Love Valley, then a cellar dinner paired with Cappadocian wines.
05
Cappadocia · Sky & Earth
Dawn balloon flight & the underground city
A private-basket balloon flight at sunrise with a champagne landing. Later, descend into Derinkuyu Underground City, ride Cappadocia’s horses through the valleys, or throw clay with a master potter in Avanos. Farewell dinner on a private terrace.
06
Departure
Onward, or further
A slow Turkish breakfast before the flight back to İstanbul for international connections, or continue to the Aegean for Ephesus and Bodrum, or the Riviera for a gulet cruise.
Selling notes for DMCs & agents
Balloon flights are weather-dependent: build in a second-morning back-up
Book cave suites and private yachts early for spring and autumn peaks
Respectful dress is required for mosque visits: advise scarves for women
Upsell 3 nights on the Aegean or Riviera for a 9-night, higher-value programme
Indicative routing: hotels, timings and rates on request
Private yachts past palaces, fortresses and 19th-century sea mansions; an Ottoman-night dinner cruise after dark.
Shop the historic bazaars
The Grand, Spice and Arasta bazaars, best explored with a guide who knows the master artisans.
Float over Cappadocia
Sunrise balloon flights above fairy chimneys, with private baskets for honeymooners and VIPs.
Sleep in a cave suite
Rock-carved rooms with terraces, spas and some of the most photographed views in the world.
Walk through 2,000 years
Frescoed rock churches at Göreme and the multi-level underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı.
Make something by hand
Pottery in Avanos, carpet weaving and İznik tiles: hands-on craft that guests remember longest.
The Table
Türkiye, one bite at a time
Turkish cuisine sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, built on olive oil, sun-ripened produce and centuries of palace refinement. Gastronomy is now a reason to travel in itself: food and drink account for more than a quarter of what visitors spend.
Kahvaltı
The great Turkish breakfast: cheeses, olives, honey with clotted cream, eggs with sucuk and endless tea.
Meze & rakı
Small olive-oil plates such as fava, haydari and dolma, shared slowly at a Bosphorus meyhane.
Lüfer season
Bluefish season opens around late October, and Black Sea hamsi follows: autumn’s finest fish suppers.
Kebap & pide
From Adana to Gaziantep, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Türkiye’s kebap route is a journey in itself.
Baklava & lokum
Geographically protected baklava, rose-scented Turkish delight and milky sütlaç.
Turkish coffee
UNESCO-listed heritage, brewed in a cezve and finished with a fortune read from the cup.
Selling tip: a private chef’s-table dinner, a spice-bazaar tasting walk or a Cappadocian vineyard lunch lifts any programme, and margins, effortlessly.
Trade outlook
What buyers should watch
i.Value over volume. Revenue held while arrivals dipped: premium, private product is where growth sits.
ii.Beyond the coast. Policy is pushing culture routes, winter sports and health tourism into a 12-month calendar.
iii.Event-led demand. Formula 1 in 2027 and İstanbul’s packed concert and sports calendar create MICE and incentive hooks.
iv.Britain matters. The UK is Türkiye’s third-largest market, and British demand is resilient year on year.
Britain is one of the world’s most valuable outbound markets, and Türkiye’s third-largest. Our Starter plan gives your DMC a credible, always-on UK presence without the cost of a London office or a full-retainer rep agency.
£350per month
UK market presence
Represented to UK tour operators, agents and MICE planners under the DMCFinder umbrella.
Priority UK visibility
Premium listing with priority placement when UK buyers search your destination.
Qualified buyer introductions
Warm introductions to UK buyers actively sourcing partners where you operate.
Lead handling in UK hours
Enquiries captured, qualified and forwarded so no lead goes cold overnight.
Events & fam trips
Priority access to DMCFinder UK events, hosted-buyer programmes and fam trips.
Features & monthly reporting
Placement in DMCFinder Weekly, plus a monthly report on views, enquiries and UK insight.
Statistics: Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and TÜİK. Itinerary is indicative and subject to availability.
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DMCFinder Concierge
Turkey
Two continents,
one extraordinary brief
From Bosphorus palaces to the cave suites of Cappadocia, why the world’s fourth most-visited country is now selling on quality, not just volume.
The Briefing · Tunga Tour · 6 Days of Luxury · The Table · UK from £350
This issue in partnership withTUNGA TOURDestination Management · İstanbul, Türkiye · TÜRSAB & IATATürkiye closed 2025 with 64 million international visitors and $65.2 billion in tourism revenue, a record on both counts. This year the story has shifted. Arrivals softened slightly in the first half as Middle Eastern airspace closures dented demand, yet revenue held level, because guests are staying longer and spending more each night.
That is a luxury story, and it is why this issue is built around quality: a Featured DMC who handles everything from Cappadocia balloon flights to private aircraft, a ready-to-sell six-day journey, and a field guide to the table, from İstanbul’s MICHELIN-starred dining rooms to this month’s first lüfer of the season.
For DMCs ready to win in Britain, Türkiye’s third-largest market, our Starter UK Source Market Representation now begins at £350 a month.
Jo
Founder, DMCFinder
4th in the world
2025 record
H1 2026, up 2.6%
Jan–Jun 2026
Sources: Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism; TÜİK (TurkStat).
What the trade needs to know
Fewer arrivals, same revenue: Türkiye’s pivot to value
Türkiye welcomed 25.8 million international visitors in the first half of 2026, slightly down on last year, yet revenue held steady at $25.8 billion. Average stays now exceed ten nights and nightly spend rose to $109. Russia, Germany and the UK remain the top three source markets, and the government is targeting $68 billion in tourism revenue for the full year.
For DMCs: the money is moving toward longer, higher-touch, multi-region programmes. Package Istanbul with Cappadocia, the Aegean or the Riviera and sell the shoulder season hard.
Formula 1 returns to İstanbul, 1–3 October 2027
The Turkish Grand Prix is back on the calendar. Hospitality packages, yacht charters and incentive groups book first: start holding inventory now.
23 Turkish hotels earn MICHELIN Keys
One property took Three Keys, three took Two and nineteen took One, across İstanbul, İzmir, Cappadocia and Muğla. A new shortlist for discerning clients.
A Cappadocia cave hotel makes TIME’s Greatest Places
Avantgarde Refined Caves of Cappadocia was named to TIME’s 2026 list for its heritage cave architecture and vast cavern spa.
Autumn in İstanbul: marathon, music and lüfer
The 48th İstanbul Marathon crosses two continents on 1 November, while late October opens bluefish season on the Bosphorus.
Tunga Tour
Making travel a worthwhile experience, as it should be.
Founded in 2018 by Ayşim Uslu and Barbaros Kıvrak, who bring fifteen and thirty years of industry experience respectively, Tunga Tour is a B2B destination management company based in Karaköy, on İstanbul’s European shore. It partners with travel agencies worldwide and is a member of both TÜRSAB and IATA.
The team handles the full spectrum: seat-in-coach and private touring, tailor-made packages, hotel and ticketing, Bosphorus yacht and Ottoman-night dinner cruises, Cappadocia balloon, horseback and ATV adventures, and private aircraft charters. On the MICE side, Tunga is the official agency for the biennial International Congress of the Turkish Society of Toxicology, and its health-tourism programmes run in partnership with leading hospitals including Memorial, Acıbadem and the American Hospital.
One licensed partner for leisure, congress, health and VIP aviation, run from the heart of İstanbul, multilingual and on call around the clock.
info@tungatour.com · +90 212 243 22 40 · TÜRSAB licence no. 13418
Türkiye
Empires · Valleys · Coastlines · The Table
Few countries compress this much into one journey. Breakfast on a Bosphorus terrace, the Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace before lunch, a sunset sail past Ottoman yalı mansions. Then a short flight to Cappadocia, where hundreds of balloons rise over fairy chimneys at dawn and dinner is served in rock-cut cellars. Beyond lie Ephesus, the Lycian coast and the blue bays of Bodrum, plus a hotel scene that now competes with the best in Europe, often at better value.
Golden shoulder season
Autumn brings mild days, thinner crowds and better rates, the months travellers increasingly choose.
Year-round appeal
Culture routes, ski resorts, cruises and health tourism push demand well beyond summer.
A new luxury tier
MICHELIN Keys, a MICHELIN Guide and fresh openings put Türkiye on the premium map.
Effortless access
Under four hours from London, with İstanbul a global hub and short domestic hops to every region.
Palaces & Fairy Chimneys:
six days of modern Türkiye
Three nights on the Bosphorus, two in the valleys of Cappadocia. Private guides throughout, no queues, no coaches, and one signature moment every day. Fully customisable for couples, families and small groups.
5 nights / 6 days · Private & tailor-made · 5-star · Year-round
VIP welcome & a Bosphorus sunset
Fast-track meet-and-greet at İstanbul Airport and a private transfer to a waterfront five-star in Karaköy or Beşiktaş. At golden hour, board a private yacht for a sail between Europe and Asia, passing Dolmabahçe Palace, the yalı mansions and Rumeli Fortress, with champagne and meze on deck.
Empires, privately
An early start with a historian-guide: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace’s Harem and Treasury. Lunch at a lokanta favoured by locals, then a traditional hamam ritual. Evening at one of İstanbul’s MICHELIN-starred tables.
Artisans, spice and the modern city
A curated walk through the Grand Bazaar’s hidden hans and the Spice Bazaar, with introductions to master carpet, ceramic and jewellery makers. Afternoon for contemporary art in Karaköy and Galataport, then a meyhane dinner of meze and rakı.
Into the moonscape
Morning flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir and transfer to a boutique cave hotel in Uçhisar or Ürgüp. Private guiding at Göreme Open-Air Museum’s frescoed churches and the Paşabağ fairy chimneys. Sunset in Love Valley, then a cellar dinner paired with Cappadocian wines.
Dawn balloon flight & the underground city
A private-basket balloon flight at sunrise with a champagne landing. Later, descend into Derinkuyu Underground City, ride Cappadocia’s horses through the valleys, or throw clay with a master potter in Avanos. Farewell dinner on a private terrace.
Onward, or further
A slow Turkish breakfast before the flight back to İstanbul for international connections, or continue to the Aegean for Ephesus and Bodrum, or the Riviera for a gulet cruise.
Six experiences worth the journey
Sail the Bosphorus
Private yachts past palaces, fortresses and 19th-century sea mansions; an Ottoman-night dinner cruise after dark.
Shop the historic bazaars
The Grand, Spice and Arasta bazaars, best explored with a guide who knows the master artisans.
Float over Cappadocia
Sunrise balloon flights above fairy chimneys, with private baskets for honeymooners and VIPs.
Sleep in a cave suite
Rock-carved rooms with terraces, spas and some of the most photographed views in the world.
Walk through 2,000 years
Frescoed rock churches at Göreme and the multi-level underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı.
Make something by hand
Pottery in Avanos, carpet weaving and İznik tiles: hands-on craft that guests remember longest.
Türkiye, one bite at a time
Turkish cuisine sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, built on olive oil, sun-ripened produce and centuries of palace refinement. Gastronomy is now a reason to travel in itself: food and drink account for more than a quarter of what visitors spend.
Kahvaltı
The great Turkish breakfast: cheeses, olives, honey with clotted cream, eggs with sucuk and endless tea.
Meze & rakı
Small olive-oil plates such as fava, haydari and dolma, shared slowly at a Bosphorus meyhane.
Lüfer season
Bluefish season opens around late October, and Black Sea hamsi follows: autumn’s finest fish suppers.
Kebap & pide
From Adana to Gaziantep, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Türkiye’s kebap route is a journey in itself.
Baklava & lokum
Geographically protected baklava, rose-scented Turkish delight and milky sütlaç.
Turkish coffee
UNESCO-listed heritage, brewed in a cezve and finished with a fortune read from the cup.
Selling tip: a private chef’s-table dinner, a spice-bazaar tasting walk or a Cappadocian vineyard lunch lifts any programme, and margins, effortlessly.
What buyers should watch
- i.Value over volume. Revenue held while arrivals dipped: premium, private product is where growth sits.
- ii.Beyond the coast. Policy is pushing culture routes, winter sports and health tourism into a 12-month calendar.
- iii.Event-led demand. Formula 1 in 2027 and İstanbul’s packed concert and sports calendar create MICE and incentive hooks.
- iv.Britain matters. The UK is Türkiye’s third-largest market, and British demand is resilient year on year.
Find a DMC in TürkiyeStarter UK Source Market Representation
Britain is one of the world’s most valuable outbound markets, and Türkiye’s third-largest. Our Starter plan gives your DMC a credible, always-on UK presence without the cost of a London office or a full-retainer rep agency.
UK market presence
Represented to UK tour operators, agents and MICE planners under the DMCFinder umbrella.
Priority UK visibility
Premium listing with priority placement when UK buyers search your destination.
Qualified buyer introductions
Warm introductions to UK buyers actively sourcing partners where you operate.
Lead handling in UK hours
Enquiries captured, qualified and forwarded so no lead goes cold overnight.
Events & fam trips
Priority access to DMCFinder UK events, hosted-buyer programmes and fam trips.
Features & monthly reporting
Placement in DMCFinder Weekly, plus a monthly report on views, enquiries and UK insight.
Covering more source markets? Ask about wider Global Representation.
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trusted connections
Join the WhatsApp community
Statistics: Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and TÜİK. Itinerary is indicative and subject to availability.