Türkiye’s national and nature parks attract 39M visitors
Artvin's Savsat district, which has the title of “calm city”, famous for its green, wooden architecture, national parks, unique cultural structure and historical monuments, draws attention with its natural lakes. (Hamit Yalçın - Anadolu Agency)
Türkiye’s national and nature parks, protected by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, saw nearly 39 million visitors between January and August 2024. According to data from the ministry, these areas offer unique historical, cultural and ecological landscapes, while promoting eco-tourism.
This year, the ministry declared a 362-hectare area in Istanbul’s Sariyer, Eyup, and Kagithane districts as the Kagithane Hasdal Nature Park. This significant addition to Istanbul’s green spaces aims to protect biodiversity and enhance the city’s natural beauty. In another development, the Afyonkarahisar Akdag Nature Park has been elevated to the status of Akdag National Park, reflecting its exceptional ecological value.
Increased summer visits
During the summer, Türkiye’s national and nature parks provided a respite for citizens from the heat, drawing large numbers of visitors.
In June, July, and August, the parks received a combined 29.6 million visitors, an increase of 1.86 million from last year’s summer period.
Top destinations in 2024
Marmaris National Park in Mugla welcomed 8.29 million visitors, making it the most visited protected area. Antalya’s Beydaglari Coastal National Park ranked second with 5.49 million visitors, followed by Konya’s Beysehir Lake National Park with 2.45 million visitors.
Other popular destinations included Kocaeli’s Ormanya Nature Park and Balikesir’s Ayvalik Islands Nature Park.
Marmaris National Park remained the top summer destination, attracting 4.15 million visitors, while Beydagları Coastal National Park and Ayvalık Islands Nature Park followed with 4.07 million and 1.51 million visitors, respectively.
Online access to protected areas
Visitors interested in exploring these protected areas online can visit the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP) website.
The “Ekotaban Nature Tourism” section allows users to view all protected areas by province, offering information on activities, characteristics, and photos of each location.
