Türkiye's new tourism code: Sports

In recent years, sports tourism has become not only a niche area but also a strategic tourism segment that strengthens Türkiye's global brand value. Thanks to facility investments, increasing international organizations, camp activity in off-season periods and opportunities offered to young athletes, this area has become a development tool. Nida Kiraz, President of the Turkish Sports Tourism Association, is one of the architects of this transformation. Kiraz predicts that the economic volume will exceed 5.5 billion dollars by 2025; She emphasizes that they want to position Türkiye not only as a holiday destination but also as a sports country that can host world-class organizations.

*How is sports tourism growing in Türkiye as of 2025?

Sports tourism in Türkiye is on a strong growth trend. We reached approximately 4.5 billion dollars in 2023 and we expect this figure to be around 5 billion dollars in 2024. It is predicted that this figure will exceed 5.5 billion dollars by 2025. This growth is driven by high-profile international events and the increase in training camps organized in Türkiye. Football camps, cycling tours, tennis organizations and winter sports in particular support this growth. Sports tourism is expanding much faster than many other tourism segments. In 2025, not only the economic volume but also the share in total tourism revenues will increase. We aim to make Türkiye a bigger global actor in this field.

*What are TSTB's main goals in this field?

As TSTB, our main goal is to strengthen and standardize sports tourism in Türkiye. In this direction, we work to create standards, bring stakeholders together and introduce Türkiye's potential to the world. It is our priority for sports tourism activities to be regular, licensed and safe. We also contribute to the branding of facilities and regions. We have established joint platforms with FIFA licensed agencies and hotels hosting tournaments. Our goal is to prove that Türkiye is not only a destination with sun and sea, but also one that can organize world-class sports events.

*Which destinations are the fastest growing?

Traditionally, Antalya and Istanbul are our best-known centers. However, in recent years, the Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia Regions have been rapidly rising in terms of sports tourism. For example, there was a 40 percent increase in events in these regions in 2023. Nature sports organized in Rize, Erzurum's high altitude advantage and ski facilities, Kayseri's camping infrastructure and Afyon's new sports complexes stand out. 60 percent of the events organized in these regions are preferred by foreign tourists. This shows that Türkiye is increasing its regional diversity and spreading tourism to the base.

*How do you see Türkiye's competitive power with international sports organizations?

Turkey has now become a seriously competitive position in the international arena. We have made major investments in our sports infrastructure in the last 20 years. The number of facilities, which was around 1,500 in the early 2000s, has increased to over 4,400 today. Cities like Istanbul host UEFA finals, international basketball and tennis tournaments. In 2025, we will also host high-level organizations such as the Ultra Trail Mont-Blanc World Series in Rize. In addition, Turkish clubs and national teams contribute to the promotion of Türkiye by achieving international success. With our transportation infrastructure, accommodation capacity and geographical advantages, Turkey is now at a level where it can host organizations at all levels.

*What are the major organizations planned for the 2024-2025 period?

There are exciting organizations in the upcoming period. One of the most important is the 2025 FIM Snowcross World Championship; It will be held at Erciyes Ski Resort. The Ultra Trail Mont-Blanc World Series will be held in Rize in September of the same year. Approximately 1,500 elite athletes from more than 40 countries are expected to participate in this race. In addition, the annual Tour of Turkey (Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey), ATP and WTA tennis tournaments continue. In addition, hundreds of football clubs prefer Antalya and its surroundings for camping in the winter months. We also aim to host new events that appeal to young audiences, such as e-sports and drone competitions.

*What do you think about the contribution of sports tourism to city economies?

Its contribution is multifaceted and quite high. Sports tourism provides direct income to the hotel, restaurant, transportation and retail sectors in the cities where the event is held. For example, hotel occupancy rates reach 90 percent in some regions during football camp periods. In addition, tourism is spread over 12 months with events organized in off-season periods. The per capita expenditure of sports tourists is around 2,500-3,000 dollars and they stay for an average of 10-14 days. This means a serious contribution to the city economy. Infrastructure investments, media visibility and local employment are also among the long-term values ​​created by sports tourism in cities.

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