The popular resort port of cruise tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin: Turkey

Abstract

Cruise tourism is in most demand in Europe and North America. The Eastern Mediterranean, and consequently Turkey rank among the destinations that cruise ship tour companies prefer to travel. Part of the demand for cruise tourism, which has been displaying a constantly raising momentum in tourism movements in the world, is now being directed towards Turkey. Nonetheless, the cruise tourism trend is spreading and prompting domestic demand in Turkey as well. A significant boom in the domestic demand has led to the commencement of cruise tours to the Black Sea, the Greek Islands, the Dalmatian shores and Italy leaving from Istanbul, Izmir and Kusadasi harbors. Turkey’s active foreign demand for cruise tourism mostly focuses on ports and its surrounding supply of services. Cruise tourism is now one of the predominant agendas within policies for diversifying and spreading tourism. Within one year Turkey managed to be ranked among the first ten countries in regard to the number of tourists and tourism revenues in the world.