Hot air balloon rides in Türkiye break all-time record with over 930,000 tourists

Hot air balloon flights across Türkiye’s stunning natural and historical landscapes welcomed a record-breaking 933,195 tourists in 2024, marking a 25% increase compared to 2023. The milestone set a new all-time high in hot-air balloon tourism in the country.

According to the 2024 Activity Report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Türkiye currently offers hot-air balloon rides in seven key regions: Nevsehir-Cappadocia, Denizli-Pamukkale, Kayseri-Soganli, Nevsehir-Cat, Antalya-Aspendos, Aksaray-Ihlara, and the Afyonkarahisar-Phrygian valleys.

In 2024 alone, a total of 43,283 flights were conducted by 71 operators using 441 balloons across these regions.

Rising demand for new ballooning regions

The growing popularity of balloon tourism in Türkiye has prompted increased interest in expanding the activity to new regions. The SHGM has received several requests to evaluate the potential of additional destinations for hot-air balloon operations.

To ensure safety standards, routine inspections and surprise checks are carried out. In 2024, SHGM conducted random alcohol and psychoactive substance tests on 348 pilots, along with 27 pre-flight inspections and 585 control flights.

Türkiye now exports its own hot air balloons

Türkiye has also made notable progress in the design and manufacturing of civil aircraft, including hot air balloons. The HURKUS training aircraft and Gokbey helicopter are among the locally certified aircraft, with the first domestically designed hot-air balloon receiving a type certification.

This growing aerospace capability has led to the export of Türkiye-made hot air balloons to countries including Rwanda, Ghana, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Qatar, South Korea, Japan, Mexico, and Jordan.

Growing workforce of certified balloon pilots

The number of certified balloon personnel in Türkiye is steadily increasing. By the end of 2024, the country had 387 licensed hot-air balloon pilots, while the number of technical personnel rose by 8.5%, from 654 to 710 year-on-year.