Turkey's tourism revenues in the fourth quarter of 2016 decreased by 27.2 percent compared to the same quarter the previous year, according to statistics released by the state-run Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) yesterday. According to the data, tourism income fell by 30 percent year-on-year to $22.1 billion. In 2015 this figure was at the level of $31.5 billion, showing tourism revenues experienced a decrease of $9.4 billion in one year.

Of the tourism income, 72.8 percent, excluding mobile phone roaming and marina service expenditures, was obtained from foreign visitors, while 27.2 percent was obtained from Turkish citizens who reside abroad. Additionally, $18.5 billion of the total tourism revenue was obtained from personal expenditures, while $3.6 billion came from package tour expenditures.

Contraction in fourth quarter was 27 pct

In the fourth quarter of 2016, from October to December, tourism revenues decreased by 27.2 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year, sitting at $4.78 billion. The tourism income, excluding mobile phone roaming and marina service expenditures, comprised 71.9 percent from foreign visitors and 28.1 percent from Turkish citizens who reside abroad. In addition, $4.3 billion in income came from personal expenditures, while $752 million was obtained from package tours.

Turkish citizens spent more

Likewise, the average expenditure of foreigners per capita in the fourth quarter of 2016 was $626, while the average expenditure of Turkish citizens residing abroad per person was $1,072. When evaluated annually, the average expenditure per person was $705, with the average expenditure of foreigners was $633 and the average expenditure of Turkish citizens residing abroad was $978.

Furthermore, the number of visitors departing Turkey was around 6.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, decreasing by 17.4 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In addition, 5.5 million foreigners departed Turkey in the said quarter, while the departing number for Turkish citizens residing abroad was 1.2 million. Evaluated annually, the number of visitors departing Turkey decreased by 24.6 percent compared to the previous year, at 31.4 million. Of those, 80.6 percent were foreigners (25.2 million people) and 19.4 percent were citizens who reside abroad (7 million).

Tourism expenditures down 11.4 pct in 2016

Tourism expenditures, which are the expenditures of citizens living in Turkey and visiting other countries, decreased by 43 percent to $870.7 million compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Of this total, $747.7 million was personal, while $123 million was for package tour expenses.

When evaluated annually, tourism expenditure was down by 11.4 percent in 2016 compared to the previous year, falling to $5.49 billion. Out of total expenditures, $4.31 billion was personal, while $1.18 billion was package tour expenses.