Visitors to Istanbul on rise

ISTANBUL

The Sultanahmet area is one the best tourists attractions in the city.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Istanbul increased by 11 percent this year, compared to last year. 

According to data obtained from the Ataürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports and Haydarpaşa, Pendik and Karaköy ports, last year between January and November, 8,728,880 foreigners arrived in Istanbul. This year, this figure increase by 11 percent and reached 9,720,078. 

The largest group of people visiting Istanbul was from Germany with 1,102,608 visitors. Germans were followed by 531,754 Russians, 475,301 Americans, 445,807 French citizens, 429,327 Britons, 404, 448 Italians, 354,201 Iranians and 264,345 Dutch citizens. These countries were followed by Libya, Ukraine, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Spain and Syria and others. 

One person each from Montserrat, Cook Island Wallis and Futuna Islands, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Jan Mayen Islands, Christmas Island, Heard and Mcdonald Islands and Gilbert Islands visited Istanbul this year. 

It was also reported that arrivals in Istanbul by air increased by 11.5 percent and arrivals by sea increased by 9.5 percent.