Air and Sea Traffic Up 16.7% in First Half of 2025

According to official data, the total number of passengers arriving by air and sea reached 1,315,392, including TRNC citizens. Excluding locals, 1,140,381 passengers were recorded, comprising Turkish nationals and third-country nationals.

Data from the Ministry of Tourism, provided by the Police General Directorate, show a 16.7% increase in foreign arrivals compared to the same period in 2024, when 976,604 foreign passengers entered via airports and seaports.

Significant Increase from Turkey

The number of Turkish citizens arriving between January and June 2025 reached 982,021, nearly hitting the one-million mark. This represents a 20.4% increase from the 815,809 Turkish arrivals during the same period in 2024. Of these, 936,662 arrived via Ercan Airport, while 45,359 entered through seaports.

Foreign Arrivals Decline Slightly

Passenger numbers from countries other than Turkey and TRNC decreased slightly. In the first half of 2025, 158,360 foreign visitors arrived, down by 2,435 passengers compared to the same period in 2024, representing a 1.5% decline.

TRNC Citizens Travel More

TRNC citizens traveling abroad by air and sea increased by 19.2%, from 146,846 in the first half of 2024 to 175,011 in the same period in 2025.

Overall, the statistics indicate a strong recovery in Turkish arrivals, while international visitor numbers outside Turkey show a minor decline.