Ankara hikes travel budget to $244M to reach global top six rank

Türkiye has announced a $244.5 million budget allocation for 2027 to drive tourism revenues toward a $70 billion annual target, according to data from the 2027 central government budget draft reported by Anadolu Agency on Wednesday, 21 October. The new funding represents a significant increase from the $188.4 million allocated for the current year. The investment is part of Ankara’s Medium-Term Programme (MTP), which outlines a progressive revenue roadmap: $70 billion in 2027, $73.5 billion in 2028, and $78.5 billion by 2029. The government expects these figures to elevate Türkiye to the world’s sixth-highest-earning tourism economy by 2027, moving up from its current projected seventh-place standing. Revenue Revisions and Regional Impact Despite record performance in 2025 where the country generated $65.2 billion, Ankara revised its 2026 revenue target downward from $68 billion to $65 billion. Officials attributed the adjustment to ongoing regional instability, specifically the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and escalating tensions in the Middle East, which have impacted travel patterns in the Eastern Mediterranean. Data from the World Tourism Organisation indicates that if Türkiye hits the $70 billion threshold next year, it could potentially climb to fifth place globally by 2028. Since 2017, the country has already improved its revenue ranking from 15th to seventh, while tourist arrival numbers moved from eighth to fourth place globally. Global Competitiveness and…