Turkey’s recent decision to allow visa-free entry for Chinese tourists has sparked a surge of interest in travelling to Turkey in the Asian country. Searches for flights from China have multiplied, as the industry forecasts significant growth in Chinese tourism over the next two years.
Currently some 400,000 Chinese tourists visit Turkey each year, but industry experts estimate that the figure could reach one million visitors by the end of 2026 thanks to the recent visa exemption for Chinese tourists. Following the move, searches for flights from Chinese cities to Istanbul increased 6.3-fold from the previous week; Antalya saw a 1.3-fold increase, while searches for flights to İzmir, on the Aegean coast, doubled.
Tourism professionals stress that Chinese travellers are among the biggest spenders globally, with an average outlay of between $2,500 and $5,000 per trip. Antalya, which last year already broke records by welcoming 17,122,548 foreign tourists, welcomed around 10,500 Chinese visitors in 2025 but is now expecting a significant increase from this market.
Turkish series also attract Chinese tourists to Turkey
Kaan Kaşif Kavaloğlu, president of the Mediterranean Hoteliers and Tour Operators Association, told Anatolia news agency that they recently hosted a delegation of managers from Trip.com, the largest Chinese direct and online travel sales platform, and that the delegation visited tourist destinations such as Antalya, Istanbul, the Aegean region and Cappadocia.
“Countries that are somewhat distant from us, such as China and the United States, are also very important sources of tourism. We have the potential to serve all kinds of source markets. That is why China and the US are very important for us. The mutual visa waiver with China is a very positive development,” he said.
“Turkish TV series have high ratings in China, which also has a positive influence on tourism. Antalya will become a meeting point for Chinese people living in Europe and those living in China. Just like Iranians, Indians or other countries, Antalya and Istanbul seem to be becoming new meeting places for the Chinese,” explained Kavaloğlu.
For his part, Zafer Süral, president of the Manavgat-Side (Antalya) Tourist Hotel Owners Association, noted that according to the decision published in the Official Gazette, Chinese citizens and tourists will be able to stay in Turkey for up to 90 days for tourism purposes from 2 January 2026: “Our Chinese guests can now easily travel to Turkey for holidays or transit, just with their passport. This development has been received with great joy by the Turkish tourism community.”
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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