Türkiye Aims for $18 Billion in Gastronomic Tourism Revenue by Year-End

As Türkiye prepares to enhance its gastronomic tourism revenues, the target is to reach $18 billion (TL 612.30 billion) by the end of this year and $25 billion by 2025.

A report from the Ahiler Development Agency, compiled by Anadolu Agency (AA), defines gastronomic tourism as traveling to explore a region's or country's culinary culture, including local dishes, beverages, and production methods.

Increasing its tourism revenues each year, Türkiye is recognized as one of the leading countries in this field.

The nation boasts over 2,200 regional foods and beverages, with prominent gastronomic centers like Gaziantep, Adana, Hatay, and Izmir.

Efforts are underway to further develop gastronomic tourism and extend its reach throughout the year, including training programs in 41 different culinary, chef, and patisserie courses, 16 of which are located in Istanbul.

According to the report, Türkiye hosts 34 gastronomic museums to promote local products and organizes over 360 gastronomic festivals nationwide.

Events promoting Turkish cuisine have also taken place in countries such as the U.S., China, Russia, Spain, and Canada to boost gastronomic tourism.

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute's (TurkStat) tourism statistics, 20% of the $23.66 billion in tourism revenue for the first half of the year came from the food and beverage sector.

In the first half of the year, this category generated $4.74 billion. Last year, total revenue from food and beverage amounted to $10.92 billion, highlighting the growth potential in gastronomic tourism.

Gürkan Boztepe, president of the Gastronomy Tourism Association, assessed the evolution of gastronomic tourism in Türkiye, noting that it has become a crucial part of the country's overall tourism strategy in recent years.

Boztepe pointed out that Türkiye’s target of “60 million tourists and $60 billion in revenue” encompasses significant potential for gastronomy. The recognition of Gaziantep as a "City of Gastronomy" by UNESCO further enhances this sector's growth prospects.

He mentioned that gastronomic tourism revenue has risen steadily, stating: "In 2021, revenues reached $5.1 billion and increased to $15 billion last year. Our end-of-year goal for gastronomic tourism is $18 billion, with a target of $25 billion by 2025. The country's rich culinary culture is a strong asset in achieving this aim."

To compete globally with countries known for their culinary traditions, Boztepe emphasized the need to expand sustainable tourism policies, asserting: "Gastronomy cities should be promoted more effectively on an international scale. Türkiye is on track to become a global player in gastronomic tourism. Competing with countries that lead in this field, such as Italy, France, and Spain, Türkiye is a strong contender, especially with its recent advancements in gastronomy and UNESCO-recognized cities."