Shopping tourism in Turkey is growing, while medical tourism is declining
Amid the depreciation of the Turkish lira, interest in shopping tourism in the country has noticeably revived. While the number of tourists coming for shopping had gradually declined in recent years, the situation changed in 2025. According to Turkish media, in the first half of the year, the number of such tourists increased by 7% compared to the same period last year, reaching 1.85 million people. The economic appeal of Turkish goods and services due to the weakened national currency became the main driver of growth.
At the same time, medical tourism, which had previously been gaining popularity, is now experiencing a downturn. The reason is scandals in the healthcare sector and a resulting atmosphere of insecurity, which have undermined the trust of foreign patients in Turkish clinics. Experts note that negative news about incidents in medical institutions has significantly impacted demand in this segment.
Turkey’s tourism sector is now focusing on strengthening the country’s image as an attractive shopping destination, while also trying to rebuild trust in the medical field.
Author
Education: Higher legal education (specialization — military law), 2007–2012; Advanced training courses in management and law enforcement (2013–2015). Work Experience: Head of departments for law enforcement and administrative practice (2012–2020) Expert in economic evaluation and…
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