Rising prices in Turkey shift tourist spending: less shopping, more food and healthcare

A travel agent in Ankara says rising prices in Turkey are changing how foreign tourists spend their money. Ezgi Bayraktar told RIA Novosti that visitors are cutting back on clothes and souvenirs while spending more on food and medical services.

Data from the Turkish Statistical Institute shows that the number of foreigners who visited Turkey for shopping in the first half of the year fell by about 8%, to 1.688 million people. Spending on medical services rose from $749 million to $834 million, an increase of roughly 11%. Food spending also grew: in the second quarter of 2026, foreign visitors spent $3.29 billion on food, compared with $3.13 billion a year earlier.

Bayraktar said tourists have become more cautious about optional purchases because high prices have made Turkey less attractive for shopping compared with previous years. She noted that the trend points to a shift toward basic needs, which are harder to give up during a trip.