Golf tourism bookings surge 15% in Türkiye’s Mediterranean hub Antalya

Golf tourism in Antalya’s Belek Tourism Center, one of Europe’s premier golf destinations, has seen a 15% increase in bookings for the new season.

This growth in reservations is attributed to the region’s world-class facilities and events, attracting golfers from across the globe, including prominent figures such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Belek: Top destination for global golfers

The Belek Tourism Center, located on the Turkish Riviera near the Mediterranean coast, has earned its place as one of Europe’s top golf hubs.

Hasan Ceylan, head of the Carya Golf Club in Belek, emphasized the resort’s significance, noting that it was named Europe’s best destination for golfing in 2013.

Of the 21 golf courses in Türkiye, 16 are located in Belek, making it a key destination for golfers.

“We can host 680,000 golfers on all our 16 courses,” Ceylan told Anadolu Agency. He also highlighted the need for more direct flights to reach this capacity, adding, “Since golfing is the only year-round tourism activity, we do not close our resorts and hotels in the winter.”

Growing popularity and expanding markets

Oner Uygun, head of the board at Millennium Golf in Antalya, reported that golf bookings for 2025 have already exceeded this year by 15%.

Around 260,000 rounds were played in the first half of 2024, and Uygun noted that the Belek region hosted around 75,000 golfers in the first six months of the year.

A significant portion of these visitors comes from the U.K., with 10,000 to 12,000 U.K. golfers arriving annually.

Uygun stressed the need for market diversification, adding, “We established an agency in Poland and we plan to bring a significant number of people from there next year.” He expressed confidence in reaching the target of 140,500 golfers and 560,000 rounds played in 2025.

Diversification of Antalya’s tourism sector

Golf tourism is playing an increasingly important role in Antalya’s tourism diversification efforts.

The region has become known for hosting prestigious golf tournaments, such as the Turkish Airlines Open, which draws high-profile athletes and fans from around the world.