Cruise passenger numbers exceed 1 million
The number of cruise passengers visiting ports in Turkey reached 1 million 97 thousand 175 in the first 9 months of the year, an increase of 54.1 percent compared to the same period last year.
12punto
According to data from the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, cruise tours continue to be a favorite of the tourism sector.
In this context, the number of cruise ships visiting ports in the country during the January-September period increased by 16.5 percent compared to the same period last year, rising from 752 to 876. In the same period, the number of passengers traveling on these ships also rose by 54.1 percent, reaching 1 million 97 thousand 175 from 711 thousand 813.
When the data is evaluated in terms of passengers visiting the ports, the number of passengers arriving at Kuşadası Port in the first 9 months of this year increased by 66 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching 603 thousand 876.
The number of cruise passengers arriving in Istanbul also rose by 48.5 percent during the same period, reaching 261 thousand 88. Bodrum was visited by 70 thousand 651 tourists arriving by cruise, Çeşme by 50 thousand 898, and Antalya by 19 thousand 363. The total number of passengers visiting other ports was recorded as 91 thousand 299.