Türkiye: Second world destination for Muslim travelers
Turkey is the second destination most popular with Muslim travelers, just behind Malaysia, according to a report published Tuesday, June 24. This ranking confirms the growing attraction for tourism centered on faith and Halal services.
The country takes advantage of its rich Islamic heritage, an adapted tourist infrastructure – with hotels offering halal menus, prayer spaces, and services designed for women – and hospitality faithful to its cultural values. Emblematic places such as the Blue Mosque of Istanbul or the Mevlana Museum in Konya continue to attract an audience in search of spirituality.
This increase is part of a global context of strong growth in Muslim tourism, with an increase of 25 % recorded in 2023, bringing the total number of travelers to 176 million. By 2030, expenses related to this sector could reach $ 230 billion. A colossal economic potential for countries capable of aligning their offer on the expectations and values of this expanding audience. These data come from the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2025, produced by Mastercard and Crescentrating.
Faced with this promising market, more and more destinations compete in efforts to adapt their offer. But Turkey seems to have taken a step ahead by combining tradition, modernity and fine understanding of the spiritual expectations of these travelers. A strategic positioning that could well continue to bear fruit in the coming years.
