2023 cruise passenger target surpassed

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced an increase in the number of cruise ships visiting ports during the January-November 2023 period. He stated, 'The number of cruise ships visiting our ports increased by 19.4% compared to the same period last year, reaching 1,167, and the number of cruise ship passengers also saw a 51.6% increase, totaling 1,517,933 compared to the same period last year. As of November, the target for 2023 of 1.5 million cruise passengers has been surpassed.'

Minister Uraloğlu evaluated the statistics on the number of cruise ships and passengers arriving at Turkish ports, as announced by the Directorate General of Maritime. Emphasizing a dynamic year in cruise tourism, Minister Uraloğlu stated, 'Turkey has become a sought-after destination in tourism, and the increasing cruise tourism is the biggest indicator of that. There has been a record increase in the number of cruise ships and passengers arriving at our ports compared to last year.'

Minister Uraloğlu stated that the target of 1.5 million cruise passengers for the year 2023 has been surpassed, reaching 1,517,933 passengers as of November. He mentioned, "We expect to reach the targeted number of 1,200 cruise ships by the end of the year."

Emphasizing their ongoing investments for the development of cruise tourism, Uraloğlu expressed, "We are making the deserved investments in every corner of our paradise homeland. We take pride in seeing the results of our investments."

Minister Uraloğlu provided information on the distribution of cruise ship and passenger numbers to ports in November and the January-November period of 2023, stating:

"In November 2023, 35 cruise ships and 44,495 cruise passengers arrived at Kuşadası Port. In the January-November 2023 period, Kuşadası Port hosted 523 cruise ships and 774,884 cruise passengers, making it the port with the highest number of cruise ship visits and hosting the most cruise passengers. In November 2023, 25 cruise ships and 41,748 cruise passengers arrived at Istanbul Ports. In the January-November 2023 period, Istanbul ports welcomed 219 cruise ships and 392,382 cruise passengers. In November 2023, 2 cruise ships and 950 cruise passengers arrived at Bodrum Port. In the January-November 2023 period, Bodrum Port hosted 97 cruise ships and 101,159 cruise passengers. In November 2023, 1 cruise ship and 543 passengers arrived at Çeşme Port. In the January-November 2023 period, Çeşme Port received 76 cruise ships and 52,030 cruise passengers. In November 2023, 1 cruise ship and 847 cruise passengers arrived at Çanakkale Port. In the January-November 2023 period, Çanakkale Port hosted 40 cruise ships and 19,672 cruise passengers. In the January-November 2023 period, outside the top 5 ports with the highest number of cruise ships, a total of 212 cruise ships and 177,806 cruise passengers arrived at other ports. For the first time since 2017, Samsun welcomed 2 cruise ships in November."