Ahmet Yazıcı highlights cruise tourism's vital role in Turkey's sustainable growth and its significant economic impact on port cities.
Ahmet Yazıcı, Chairman of the Board of Sea Genesis Group, stated that maritime tourism, particularly cruise tourism, strengthens its strategic role in Turkey's sustainable growth objectives, emphasizing that the results obtained are a reflection of a long-term transformation rather than a temporary rise.
Cruise Tourism: The Key to Growth
Yazıcı pointed out that cruise tourism has played a significant role in the strong momentum that Turkish tourism has gained in recent years, highlighting that this sector stands out with its high spending potential and widespread economic impact. He noted that the 2025 tourism data announced makes the contribution of cruise tourism to Turkey's overall tourism performance more visible, emphasizing that this segment directly aligns with long-term growth targets. 'Cruise tourism is an extremely strong area for Turkish tourism due to its high spending potential, direct economic contributions to destinations, and operational structure that spans the entire year. This segment plays a decisive role in increasing tourism revenues and raising per capita expenditures,' he stated.
Widespread Economic Impact for Port Cities
Yazıcı expressed that cruise tourism is not limited to ship traffic alone, stating that the economic activity it generates in port cities spreads across numerous sectors. He emphasized that this model creates economic vitality in different cities and regions without being confined to specific tourism centers, saying, 'A cruise passenger directly contributes to various areas such as gastronomy, retail, transportation, and culture-art with their non-accommodation expenditures. In this respect, cruise tourism offers a strong structure that brings rapid and widespread mobility to city economies.'
The Role of Cruise Tourism is Increasing in 2026 Goals
Yazıcı indicated that the tourism revenue target of 68 billion dollars announced for 2026 will be further supported by new steps to be taken in the field of cruise tourism, drawing attention to the importance of new ports, new routes, and international collaborations. He also added that Turkey's geographical location and existing port infrastructure provide a significant advantage in this area, stating, 'Turkey is no longer just a transit route in cruise tourism; it is becoming a preferred destination. As Sea Genesis Group, our goal is to further increase Turkey's share in cruise tourism in the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins and contribute to growth in this area.'
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
