The number of cruise ship passengers in 2022 exceeded 1 million people, an increase of 22 times. This was announced by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkey Adil Karaismailoglu.
According to him, in Turkey in 2022, there was a significant increase in both tourist arrivals and moored liners.
The head of the department recalled that in 2021, 45,362 passengers arrived in Turkey on board 78 cruise ships. “The number of cruise ships docked in Turkey in 2022 increased 12 times to 991, and the number of passengers increased 22 times, exceeding 1 million 6 thousand,” Karaismailoglu said.
According to him, in October 2022 alone, more cruise ships moored in Turkish ports than throughout 2021.
So in October last year, 206,484 passengers arrived on board 155 cruise ships. This is the largest number of cruise ship passengers for the entire year, the minister said.
Karaismailoglu said that the Turkish port of Kusadasi received the largest number of cruise ships and passengers in 2022 (464 ships and 493,834 passengers, respectively).
According to him, Galataport in Istanbul was chosen as the port of the year, having received 143 ships and 220,082 passengers.
“The port in the resort region of Bodrum is in third place with 98 cruise ships carrying 95,462 passengers. Sinop, Amasra and Trabzon are also in the focus of cruise tourism,” Karaismailoglu stated.
The Minister drew attention to the fact that the ports of Amasra and Unye for the first time began to receive cruise liners. “We are also proud of the results of our investments,” Karaismailoglu stressed.