Foreign tourist numbers down 8.1 percent in April

The number of foreign visitors arriving in Turkey in April fell 8.1 percent to 2.4 million, according to data released by the Culture and Tourism Ministry. The data showed that the number of foreign visitors in the first four months of 2015 also decreased 0.51 percent to 6.97 million compared to the same period of the previous year. A total of 114,667, or 4.70 percent, of the 2.43 million foreign visitors arriving in Turkey in April were excursionists. The cities with border entries with the most number of foreigners arriving between January and April 2015 are Istanbul with 42.62 percent, Antalya with 25.55 percent, Edirne with 9.6 percent, Artvin with 5.69 percent and Muğla with 3.61 percent.

Germany takes the first place with a share of 13.34 percent in the comparison of foreign visitors by nationality in the period between January and April 2015. Iran was second with a share of 7.58 percent and Georgia was third with a share of 6.78 percent. The number of citizens residing abroad coming to Turkey in the period between January and April 2015 increased 10.62 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year while the number of citizens leaving increased 10.81 percent.