Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that Türkiye has gained significant momentum in cruise tourism and announced that the number of cruise ships calling at ports in the first four months of 2025 increased by 37,4 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching 169. Minister Uraloğlu reported that the increase in the number of cruise passengers reached a remarkable rate of 52,3 percent, reaching 205 passengers.
Record Increase in April
Minister Uraloğlu evaluated the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs' April 2025 cruise statistics and noted that there was a significant increase in this month as well. Stating that the number of cruise ships calling at ports in April increased by 32,9 percent compared to the same month last year, reaching 97, Uraloğlu said that the number of cruise passengers arriving at ports increased by 40,7 percent in the same period, reaching 104 passengers.
Leader of Kusadasi Cruise Tourism
Minister Uraloğlu announced that Kuşadası was the port with the highest number of cruise passengers and ships in both April and the first four months of the year. Kuşadası Port, which hosted 45 ships and 50 passengers in April, solidified its leadership in this area. Kuşadası was followed by Istanbul Ports with 194 ships and 15 passengers and İzmir Port with 25 ships and 300 passengers. According to the data for the first four months of 4, Kuşadası Port maintained its top spot with 5 cruise ships and 307 passengers, while 2025 ships and 67 passengers called at Istanbul ports and 75 ships and 499 passengers called at İzmir Port. These figures clearly demonstrate that Türkiye has become an important destination in cruise tourism and that the Aegean Region in particular has the potential in this area.
