Tourists travel to Türkiye to treat baldness.

The number of tourists visiting Istanbul (Türkiye) in the first half of this year doubled compared to last year, contributing significantly to the recovery of the Turkish economy, Euro News reports. According to a report by the World Travel & Tourism Council, Turkey was one of the top four most popular destinations in Europe this past summer.

The majority of tourists visit this country for health tourism. Accordingly, Istanbul is a popular destination for hair transplant services for bald people. Each year, the city attracts more than 250,000 foreign visitors seeking these cosmetic procedures, according to Euro News.

Istanbul has long been a magnet for international tourists due to its rich culture, art, and history. Here, wellness tourism, shopping, and sightseeing are particularly appealing to visitors. In 2020, the Turkish capital experienced a severe crisis in its tourism industry. After two years, visitor numbers have recovered strongly, with indicators generally higher than before the pandemic.

International visitor numbers to Istanbul increased by nearly 115% in June, reaching approximately 1.47 million, according to data from the Istanbul Directorate of Culture and Tourism. Visitors to Türkiye in general, and Istanbul in particular, mainly come from Europe and the Americas.

Data shows that German tourists topped the list in June with 126,507 arrivals, followed by 117,169 from Russia, 99,115 from Iran, 96,604 from the US, and 59,901 from the UK. In a Turkish tourism report, revenue from the country's tourism industry reached $8.7 billion in the three months of April-June.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country aims to generate $37 billion in tourism revenue and attract 47 million visitors this year. Officials hope the tourism sector in 2022 will reach or surpass pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, Türkiye attracted approximately 52 million visitors, generating $34 billion in revenue.

Anh Thi