Minister Uraloğlu: Record increase in cruise ship and passenger numbers compared to last year

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that there was an increase in the number of cruise ships calling at ports in the January-November 2023 period, saying, “The number of cruise ships calling at our ports increased by 19.4 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching 1,167, and the number of passengers arriving by cruise ship increased by 51.6 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching 1 million 517 thousand 933. The 2023 target of 1.5 million cruise passengers was exceeded as of November.”

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu evaluated the statistics on the number of cruise ships and passengers docking at Turkish ports, announced by the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs. Emphasizing that it has been a busy year in cruise tourism, Minister Uraloğlu said, “Turkey has become a country in demand for tourism. The biggest indicator of this is the ever-increasing cruise tourism. There has been a record increase in the number of cruise ships and passengers arriving at our ports compared to last year.”

Minister Uraloğlu shared the following information regarding the number of cruise ships and passengers that called at ports in November and the January-November period of this year:

“In November 2023, the number of cruise ships calling at our ports increased by 39.7 percent compared to the same month last year, reaching 95. The number of cruise passengers arriving at our ports in November increased by 59.7 percent compared to the same month last year, reaching 124 thousand 563. In the January-November 2023 period, the number of cruise ships calling at our ports increased by 19.4 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching 1,167, and the number of cruise passengers arriving at our ports increased by 51.6 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching 1 million 517 thousand 933.”
Minister Uraloğlu stated that the 2023 target of 1.5 million cruise passengers was exceeded as of November with 1 million 517 thousand 933 passengers, adding, “We also expect to reach the target of 1,200 cruise ships by the end of the year.”
Emphasizing that they continue to invest in the development of cruise tourism, Uraloğlu said, “We are making the investment our paradise homeland deserves in every corner. We are proud to see that we are reaping the results of our investments.”

Minister Uraloğlu also provided the following information regarding the distribution of cruise ship and passenger numbers by port in November and the January-November 2023 period:

“In November 2023, 35 cruise ships and 44 thousand 495 cruise passengers arrived at Kuşadası Port. In the January-November 2023 period, 523 cruise ships and 774 thousand 884 cruise passengers arrived at Kuşadası Port. With this number, Kuşadası Port became the port that hosted the most cruise ships and the most cruise passengers. In November 2023, 25 cruise ships and 41 thousand 748 cruise passengers arrived at Istanbul Ports. In the January-November 2023 period, 219 cruise ships and 392 thousand 382 cruise passengers arrived at Istanbul ports. In November 2023, 2 cruise ships and 950 cruise passengers arrived at Bodrum Port. In the January-November 2023 period, 97 cruise ships and 101 thousand 159 cruise passengers arrived at Bodrum Port. In November 2023, 1 cruise ship and 543 passengers arrived at Çeşme Port. In the January-November 2023 period, 76 cruise ships and 52 thousand 30 cruise passengers arrived at Çeşme Port. In November 2023, 1 cruise ship and 847 cruise passengers arrived at Çanakkale Port. In the January-November 2023 period, 40 cruise ships and 19 thousand 672 cruise passengers arrived at Çanakkale Port. In the January-November 2023 period, a total of 212 cruise ships and 177 thousand 806 cruise passengers arrived at other ports outside the top 5 ports that received the most cruise ships. For the first time since 2017, 2 cruise ships arrived in Samsun in November.”

News Source: 12punto