The document discusses tourism between Turkey and neighboring countries. It finds that arrivals from neighbors like Georgia, Iran, and Russia have increased dramatically in the last 10 years, with Georgia seeing over 600% growth. Turkey has eased or canceled visa requirements for many neighbors to encourage travel. New infrastructure projects and Turkish cultural exports have also contributed to the rise in cross-border tourism.

1. «Tourism in Turkey within the context
of the cross-border relations and role of
the neighboring countries for the
development of a balanced tourism
demand"
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zafer ÖTER
İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Faculty of Tourism
Department of Tour Guiding, İzmir, Turkey.
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
1

2. TR
and
neigbours
18.04.2015
Dr. Zafer Oter. International
Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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3. Current Outlook of Turkish Tourism
Top 10 countries whose residents provided the most visits to Turkey (2012 est.)
Country Number
Germany 5.0 million
Russia 3.5 million
United Kingdom 2.4 million
Bulgaria 1.5 million
Georgia 1.4 million
Netherlands 1.2 million
Iran 1.1 million
France 1.0 million
United States 0.8 million
Syria 0.7 million
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
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Neighbours: 8.2 million (44%), EU: 9.6 million (52%), USA: 0.8 million (4%)

4. ArrivalstoTurkey 1998-2014(Turkstat,2015)
Year Arrivals
1998 9,750,000
1999 7,460,000
2000 8,000,000
2001 10,400,000
2002 12,800,000
2003 13,300,000
2004 16,800,000
2005 21,200,000
2006 18,500,000
2007 23,340,911
2008 26,336,677
2009 27,077,114
2010 28,632,204
2011 31,456,076
2012 31.782.832
2013 34,910,098
2014 36,837,900
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
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5. Arrival toTRbymodeoftransport(Turkstat,2015)
• Air: 26.794.191
• Rail: 24.460
• Land: 7.573.826
• Sea: 632.115
• Daytripper (excursionist): 1.813.308
• Total: 36.837.900
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
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6. TURKISH
CITIZENS
TRAVELLING
ABROAD
YEARS MILLION TRAVEL
1975 1,3
1980 1,7
1990 2,9
1993 3,3
1994 3,4
1995 3,9
1996 4,2
1997 4,7
1998 4,6
2000 5,3
2001 4,9
2002 5,1
2003 5,9
2004 7,2
2005 8,2
2006 8,2
2007 8,9
2008 9,8
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
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7. TR Border gates
• 27 land
• 7 rail
• 60 maritime
• 50 air
• Total : 144 border gates (87 with customs directorate)
• Total customs directorate 155 of which 18 are inactive, 137 are
active.
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
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8. Number of border
gates (TR, 2015)
Customs directorate
serving to border gates
(TR, 2015)
Land 27 26
railway 7 7
maritime 60 43
air 50 11
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
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9. land
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Dr. Zafer Oter. International
Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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10. rail
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Dr. Zafer Oter. International
Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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11. maritime
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Dr. Zafer Oter. International
Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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12. air
18.04.2015
Dr. Zafer Oter. International
Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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13. 1-Syria-TR
• TR>Syria : exemption (90 days) for regular / special / service /
diplomatic passports in every 6 months.
• Syria>TR : All passports exempted from visa for 90 days.
• Visitor traffic from Syria to TR:
• 1996: 92.033 (1 %)
• 2004:195.597 (1 %)
• 2014: 1.176.490 (3.1 %) (+ 500% increase in 10yrs > 50% pa)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
13

14. • TR>Russian Federation: Regular passport /special passport /service
passport holders exempted from visa in 6 months maximum 90 days
total, and max. 30 days for each tourism or business visit.
• Diplomatic passport holders: 90 days visa exemption.
• Russian Fed. > TR: Regular / special / service passport holders max. 60
days exempted for business and tourism visits.
• Diplomatic passport holders: 90 days visa exemption.
• Visitor traffic from Russia to TR:
• 1996: 1.237.557 (14 % of total)
• 2004: 1.603.372 (9 % of total)
• 2014: 4.479.049 ( 12% of total) (179% increase in 10 yrs)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
14
2-Russian Fed. -TR

15. 3-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus-TR
• TR>TRNC: All passports exempted from visa.
• TRNC>TR : All passports exempted from visa.
• Visitor traffic from TRNC to TR:
• 1996: 91.370 (1%)
• 2004: 121.002 (1%)
• 2014: 227.612 (1%) (close to 100% increase in 10 yrs)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
15

16. 4-Iran-TR
• TR>İran: All passport holders exempted 90 days from visa .
• İran>TR : All passport holders exempted 90 days from visa .
Visitor traffic from Iran to TR:
• 1996: 379.003 (4%)
• 2004: 631.522 (3.5%) (66% up in last 8yrs)
• 2014: 1.590.664 (4,3%) (151% up in last 10 yrs)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
16

17. 5-Irak-Tr
• TR>Irak: All passport holders need visa. Possible to obtain visa
at border gates.
• Irak>TR : Regular and official passport holders need visa.
Regular passport holders may get 30 days valid single entrance
visa at certain border gates or from website www.evisa.gov.tr .
• Visitor traffic: from Irak to TR:
• 1996: 14.137 (-1%)
• 2004: 111.819 (1%) (692% increase in last 8 yrs)
• 2014: 857.246 (2,3%) (672% increase in last 10 yrs)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
17

18. 6-Georgia-TR
• TR>Georgia: All passport holders exempted from visa for 90
days.
• Georgia>TR: All passport holders exempted from visa for 90
days.
• Visitor traffic from Georgia to TR:
• 1996: 116.709 (1%)
• 2004: 235.143 (1%) (102% up in last 8yrs)
• 2014: 1.755.289 (5%) (646% up in last 10yrs = 1.5 mn. New
visitors)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
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19. 7-Armenia-TR
• TR>Armenia: All passport holders are subject to visa. Regular
passp. Holders may obtain visa at border gates if entered from
airport.
• Armenia>TR: All passport holders are subject to visa. Regular
passp. Holders may obtain visa max. 30 days for tourism visit
via website www.evisa.gov.tr or consulates/embassies.
• Visitor traffic from Armenia to TR:
• 1996: 5.345 (-1%)
• 2004: 33.097 (-1%) (560% up in last 8 yrs)
• 2014: 67.198 (-1%) (103% up in last 10 yrs)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
19

20. 8-Bulgaria-TR
• TR>Bulgaria: Regular passp. subject to visa. Special passports
exempted from visa for 90 days in 6 months period from the
entrance. Diplomatic and service passport holders exempted
from visa for 30 days.
Bulgaria>TR: Diplomatic and service passport holders are
exempted from visa up to 30 days for tourism and official visits,
and as transit passengers. Regular passport holders are exempt
from visa for 90 days for tourism visits.
• Visitor traffic from Bulgaria to TR:
• 1996: 139.648 (1,6% of total arrivals)
• 2004: 1.310.640 (7,5%) (842% increase in 8yrs)
• 2014: 1.693.591 (4,6 %, despite 29 % increase in visitor number
in 10 yrs)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
20

21. 9-Azerbaijan-TR
• TR>Azerbaijan: Regular passp. Holders are subject to visa.
Special/service/diplomatic passp. Holders exempt from visa for
90 days.
• Azerbaijan>TR: Regular passp. Holders are exempt from visa
for 30 days. Sepcial/service/diplomatic passp. Holders exempt
for 90 days.
• Visitor traffic from Azerbaijan to TR:
• 1996: 100.249 (1%)
• 2004: 330.313 (2%) (230% up in last 8yrs)
• 2014: 657.684 (2%) (99% up in last 10 yrs)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
21

22. 10-Greece-TR
• TR>Greece: Regular passp. Are subject to visa.
Diplomatic/service/special passp. Are exmpt from visa.
Greece>TR: Official and regular passp. Holders are exempt
from visa. Greek drivers carrying passengers or freight are
subject to visa.
• Visitor traffic from Greece to TR:
• 1996:147.553 (2%)
• 2004: 491.300 ( 3%) (234% increase in 8 yrs)
• 2014: 830.841 (2,2%) (70% increase in 10yrs)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
22

23. The same period:Changesin arrivalsfrom
majortouristmarkets of Turkey
• Ger: 1996: 2.119.086 (25% share)
• Ger: 2004: 3.985.141 (23% share) (88% increase in 8yrs= 11%pa)
• Ger: 2014: 5.250.036 (14% share) ( 31% up in last 10 yrs=3%pa )
• UK 1996: 716.978 (8% share)
• UK 2004:1.398.412 (8% share) (95% up in last 8yrs= 12%pa)
• UK2014: 2.600.360 (7% share) (85% up in last 10 yrs=8,5%pa)
• HOL 1996: 210.245 (2,5% share)
• HOL 2004: 1.199.474 (7% share) (470% up in last 8 yrs= 58%pa)
• HOL 2014: 1.303.730 (3,5% share) (9% up in last 10 yrs= 0,9%pa)
• USA 1996: 344.619 (4% share)
• USA2004: 289.290 (1,6% share) (-16% down in last 8 yrs = 2%pa)
• USA 2014: 784.917 (2,1 %) (170% up in last 10yrs = 17%pa)
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
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24. WHY
visitors
from
neigbours
are
soaring
in
Turkey?
18.04.2015
Dr. Zafer Oter. International
Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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25. Stability
in
economy
and
politics
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Dr. Zafer Oter. International
Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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26. Gas
pipelines
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Dr. Zafer Oter. International
Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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27. Energy
routes
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Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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28. Energy
corridors
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Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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29. 18.04.2015
Dr. Zafer Oter. International
Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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Cultural/historical
heritage
in
a
large
geography

30. Agreements
to
ease
or
cancel
visas
with
neigbours
18.04.2015
Dr. Zafer Oter. International
Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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31. New
transport
infrastructure
investments:
ports,
roads…
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Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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32. New
routes
of
Turkish
Airlines
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Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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33. Turkish
Soap
Operas
and
Movies
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Tourism Forum: Sofia-Bulgaria
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34. Thank
you.
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zafer ÖTER
İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Faculty of Tourism, Department of Tour Guiding,
Izmir, Turkey.
• E-mail: oter@hotmail.com
• GSM: 0090-5326237832
• For more:
• http://turizm.ikc.edu.tr/akademik-kadro/zafer-oter
http://kisi.deu.edu.tr/zafer.oter/
http://tr.linkedin.com/pub/zafer-oter/a/746/852
18.04.2015
Dr.
Zafer
Oter.
International
Tourism
Forum:
Sofia-Bulgaria
34