Türkiye is setting its sights on continued growth from the Canadian market, building on strong visitor numbers, expanded air connectivity and visa-free travel. In this edition of Take 5, the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) shares its latest initiatives, emerging destinations and tourism developments, plus the tools available to help Canadian travel advisors boost bookings.
1. What strategies are in place to maintain or grow Canada as a key market?
“As one of the world’s four most-visited destinations, Türkiye has built a resilient tourism model driven by diversification across source markets, tourism products and travel seasons. Within this framework, every destination served by Turkish Airlines is considered a potential strategic market. North America – and Canada in particular – has emerged as a key focus area, with strong potential for sustainable growth in visitor numbers.
“By prioritizing Canada, efforts are being made to strengthen two-way tourism flows between the two countries while steadily expanding Türkiye’s share of this market. A major milestone in this regard was reached with the introduction of visa exemptions for Canadian citizens in 2023, making travel to Türkiye more accessible than ever. Combined with the country’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant cities, stunning coastlines and diverse tourism offerings, this measure has contributed to a steady increase in Canadian arrivals, which reached 321,271 in 2025.
“The efforts, however, extend well beyond visa facilitation. Strong partnerships across the Canadian travel ecosystem continue to be cultivated through close collaboration with industry stakeholders. As part of this approach, familiarization trips are regularly organized for travel agents and tour operators, content creators, journalists, influencers and opinion leaders from Canada. Through carefully curated itineraries tailored to the interests of the Canadian market, Türkiye’s diverse destinations are experienced firsthand by participants, who can subsequently become valuable advocates for the country upon their return.
“At the same time, a strong presence is maintained in Canada through targeted media and digital marketing campaigns, keeping Türkiye highly visible and top of mind as a compelling destination for Canadian travellers. Collaborations with leading television networks and national media outlets showcase Türkiye’s diverse destinations, rich history, natural and cultural treasures, culinary heritage and distinctive visitor experiences through both written and visual content.
“This approach is further strengthened by GoTürkiye’s cinematic campaign films and entertainment-driven storytelling strategy. To date, eight mini-series have been produced, showcasing destinations including İstanbul, Antalya, Bodrum, Cappadocia and İzmir. Reaching audiences across international digital platforms, these productions have generated billions of advertising impressions and views and have received international acclaim, with İstanbul My Love and Antalya Gambit winning the Finalist and Silver Awards, respectively, at the US International Awards 2026 in the Online & Social Media – City Promotion category. The same creative approach is also reflected in the success of the ‘So Turkish, Go Turkish’ campaign film, which received a Silver Award in the Corporate Videos – Country Promotion category, the highest distinction presented in the category in 2026.”
2. What destinations in Türkiye should Canadians consider for their next trip?
“Canadian travellers are especially drawn to destinations that offer a unique blend of stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Among the most popular attractions in Türkiye are İstanbul, Cappadocia, the ancient city of Ephesus, and the spectacular travertine terraces of Pamukkale. Meanwhile, Bodrum, Muğla’s renowned resort town, appeals to Canadian travellers with its luxury accommodation options and premium experiences, from private yacht cruises along the turquoise coast and traditional hammam rituals to world-class dining at MICHELIN-recognized restaurants.
“Beyond these iconic destinations, Türkiye offers a wealth of authentic experiences that resonate strongly with Canadian travellers seeking both cultural discovery and nature-based escapes. From the lush landscapes of the Black Sea region, selected as one of National Geographic’s Best of the World destinations for 2026, to the tranquil villages of Southeastern Anatolia, visitors can explore lesser-known corners of the country and uncover its remarkable diversity.
“Türkiye is also home to extraordinary cultural treasures spanning millennia. Göbeklitepe, the star of the Neolithic age, the legendary city of Troy, immortalized in Homer’s epics, and countless other archaeological sites offer unique insights into the story of human civilization. Adding another dimension to these experiences, the Night Museums Project keeps selected ancient sites and museums open after sunset during the summer months, allowing visitors to explore Türkiye’s rich heritage through unique nocturnal cultural experiences in an unforgettable and atmospheric setting.
3. How is GoTürkiye supporting Canadian travel agents with training, sales tools, partnerships, or incentives to help them confidently sell the destination?
“Travel agents are included in familiarization trips to provide them with a first-hand, in-depth experience of the country, enabling this knowledge to be adapted to their own markets and Türkiye to be effectively promoted to their clients. However, support for Canadian stakeholders does not end there. Travel trade training is another area prioritized for stakeholders, both in Türkiye and abroad.
“In this context, an online training platform called All in Türkiye was launched specifically for tourism professionals worldwide. The platform is available in 13 languages. Through this platform, tourism specialists from Canada are given the opportunity to become Türkiye Tourism Experts and expand their business opportunities in Turkish tourism.”
4. How easy is it for Canadians to get to Türkiye?
“Firstly, year-round nonstop service and connecting flights enable passengers traveling from North America to reach Türkiye. Especially İstanbul Airport, Türkiye’s largest and one of the biggest airports in the world, serves as a major global hub for our Canadian visitors, offering extensive international connectivity.
“Moreover, in May, a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regulating air transport relations between Türkiye and Canada was signed. Under this agreement, the number of weekly passenger flight frequencies between the two countries has been increased from 12 to 21, further enhancing connectivity for travellers between Türkiye and Canada.
“Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, Türkiye has granted visa exemptions to Canadian citizens. Holders of regular Canadian passports are not required a visa for stays of up to 90 days every 180 days when travelling to Türkiye for tourism purposes. With strong air connectivity and visa exemption, Türkiye stands as a compelling destination that provides Canadian travellers with convenient and seamless holiday opportunities.”
5. Are there any new and noteworthy tourism developments – such as hotels, attractions or cultural initiatives – that agents should be aware of when planning itineraries?
“Thanks to the enduring interest of visitors, Türkiye stands as a key hub for tourism innovation and investment, from new hotel openings to the continuous diversification of its tourism offerings. While both international and local hotel brands continue to expand across the country, particularly in leading destinations such as İstanbul, Antalya and Bodrum, 22 properties in Türkiye have also been awarded MICHELIN Keys, recognizing accommodations that deliver outstanding hospitality experiences.
“Alongside its accommodation sector, Türkiye’s culinary scene continues to evolve dynamically. As new high-quality restaurants open across the country, the number of MICHELIN-recognized destinations continues to grow. Cappadocia, one of Türkiye’s most fascinating geographical regions with its fairy chimneys, has recently become the latest Turkish destination to join İstanbul, İzmir, and Muğla in the 2026 MICHELIN restaurant selection. Moreover, starting next year, the MICHELIN Guide will present, for the first time, a selection covering all of Türkiye, marking the country’s first national selection.
“Türkiye’s tourism offerings continue to be enhanced and diversified through various cultural initiatives and restoration projects. The historic Sirkeci and Haydarpaşa train stations in İstanbul, for example, are undergoing major restorations to transform them into vibrant centres of art and culture, with completion expected by 2026. Another latest conversation project in İstanbul is Hagia Sophia. Recent works focus on Hagia Sophia’s dome to make it more resistant while preserving its original form.
“The Antalya Archaeological Museum, home to a vast collection of artefacts from Lycian, Pamphylian, and Pisidian settlements, is also undergoing a redevelopment project led by the Culture and Tourism Ministry. The current museum building will be replaced with a new structure on the same site to exhibit its works in a larger space. The new museum is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
“For travellers seeking immersive experiences in nature, the Aegean coast’s Efeler Way (Efeler Yolu) is emerging as an exciting new route alongside the world-renowned Lycian Way. Developed as a sustainable walking route along Türkiye’s stunning Aegean coastline, the Efeler Way was recognized by Green Destinations as one of its “Top 100 Stories.” As one of Türkiye’s newest long-distance trekking routes, combining natural beauty, history and local culture, the 500-kilometre trail begins in the Bornova district of İzmir and concludes at the House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus. Following ancient pathways that connect villages and highland plateaus, the route offers hikers the opportunity to discover the rich heritage of the region while experiencing the enduring legacy of Efe culture.
“Urla, Çal, Lydian and Bozcaada Vineyard Routes in the Aegean region, the Cappadocia Vineyard Route in Central Anatolia, and the Thrace Vineyard Route in the Marmara region of Türkiye are among the country’s most popular vineyard routes. More recently, the Troy Wine Route, inspired by the ancient city of Troy and stretching across Çanakkale and Bozcaada, has been introduced as Türkiye’s newest vineyard route. Rooted in the region’s millennia-old viticultural heritage and unique terroir, the route brings together local wineries, gastronomy, accommodation, and cultural experiences, offering visitors a distinctive journey through the historic Troad region.
“Meanwhile, Türkiye’s cultural and historical heritage continues to attract global attention through groundbreaking archaeological discoveries. In this regard, the Taş Tepeler (Stone Mounds) region in Şanlıurfa has emerged as one of the most significant archaeological landscapes in the world. Recent excavations at Karahantepe have uncovered a T-shaped pillar carved with a human face—the first known example of its kind—marking a major milestone in Neolithic studies and offering new insights into the interpretation of these monumental structures. The site has also yielded what is believed to be the world’s earliest three-dimensional mythological depiction, a remarkable find described by experts as ‘the discovery of the century for the Neolithic Age.’
“Among the region’s must-see archaeological treasures, Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, continues to captivate visitors with its monumental stone pillars, life-sized painted wild boar statue, and a votive human figure embedded within a wall. Together, these extraordinary discoveries further reinforce the region’s status as one of humanity’s earliest centres of civilization.”
More information about travel to Türkiye is at GoTurkiye.com.
Lead image caption: Istanbul, Turkey
