Antalya Welcomes 6.5 Million Tourists in the First Half of 2026

Turkey's southern coastal province of Antalya has seen a strong tourism boom, welcoming more than 6.5 million foreign visitors during the first half of 2026.

İlhan Arıdıcı, President of the Kemer Hotel Owners and Operators Association, said hotel occupancy rates across the province have reached high levels and are expected to remain strong through the end of autumn.

Arıdıcı said the tourism season gained real momentum in June, driven by increased demand from domestic travelers following the start of the school holidays.

He added that nearly all hotels reached full capacity by the beginning of July, noting that booking figures for August indicate occupancy rates will remain high, while September is also expected to maintain the same strong performance.

According to Arıdıcı, Antalya's tourism activity will continue beyond the summer season. The province will begin hosting conference events in October before welcoming the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in November, an international event expected to boost visitor numbers and extend the tourism season through the end of November.

He also said that most hotels are expected to remain open until late November, anticipating a busy month, especially with the growing number of tourists choosing longer seasonal stays.

Antalya is one of Turkey's leading tourist destinations, attracting visitors from around 200 countries, with Russia, Germany, and the United Kingdom among its largest source markets. The province continues to draw millions of tourists thanks to its international reputation, beautiful beaches, luxury resorts, and strong demand during the summer months.