Russians flock to this district: It received 10 times its population in tourists

The Amasra district of Bartın has welcomed a busy period once again with cruise tourism. The giant cruise ship 'Astoria Grande', carrying the first Russian guests of the 2026 season, docked at Amasra Port in the morning hours. There were 819 passengers and 456 crew members on board.

The luxury passenger ship, approximately 193 meters long and 30 meters wide, first stopped in Greece after departing from Russia, offering its passengers a two-day excursion opportunity. Afterward, the 'Astoria Grande' turned its route to the Black Sea and made a stop in Amasra. Following their procedures at the port, the tourists arriving by ship had the chance to visit the historic center of Amasra and Safranbolu, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. At the end of the day, the cruise ship will continue its journey toward the Russian city of Sochi.

Previously, the 'Astoria Grande' had been unable to stop in Amasra on January 2 due to a severe storm and was forced to divert its voyage to the Port of Istanbul.

According to information obtained from port authorities, a total of 116 thousand 280 Russian tourists have been brought to Amasra by this ship across 91 voyages made since August 2022. Tourism activity is expected to continue with 30 additional voyages until the end of 2026.

According to 2025 data, Amasra's population was recorded as 13 thousand 705. However, the city has recently hosted more than 10 times its population in visitors just from the number of tourists arriving from Russia alone. The tourist vitality in the district increases even further with those arriving from other countries.

Local tradespeople and tourism professionals are pleased with the contribution of the new season's first large group to the regional economy. As in previous years, Amasra will continue to host cruise tourists arriving via the Black Sea this season as well.

News Source: 12punto