Russians outpace Turks in choosing hotel holidays in Turkey, travel expert reveals

While millions of sun-seeking Russians flock to Turkey each year for resort getaways, most locals are taking trips for a very different reason: visiting family and friends. According to travel agent Cem Alabay, a member of the Turkish Association of Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), the gap in travel habits between foreign visitors and Turkish citizens is stark.

Alabay points to fresh data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) showing that in the first quarter alone, 11.52 million Turkish residents made over 14.1 million overnight trips. But unlike Russian tourists—who overwhelmingly book hotels and all-inclusive packages along the coasts of Antalya, Muğla, and the Aegean—most Turks stay with relatives. Nearly 68 percent of domestic trips were for visiting loved ones, while only 22 percent were for leisure. Hotels accounted for just 5.65 million overnight stays, compared to more than 59 million nights spent in private homes.

Spending on domestic travel jumped 33.9 percent year-on-year, reaching 102.3 billion Turkish lira (about $2.2 billion), with the average trip costing 7,221 lira (roughly $154). Meanwhile, Russia remains Turkey’s largest international tourism market. By the end of 2025, 6.9 million Russian visitors had entered the country, most choosing beach holidays over family visits. The contrast, Alabay says, highlights how two very different kinds of tourism are driving Turkey’s travel economy.