Antalya is one of Turkey’s main tourist provinces, annually gathering more than 15 million visitors from all over the world. In addition to the spectacular beaches and surrounded by mountains, this province also manages to attract those less fond of the sea.
In 2025, writes the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet Daily News, more than 17.12 million tourists have chosen Antalya as their holiday destination. It is the second year in a row that Antalya has set a record number of visitors, after the historical performance recorded in 2024, the cited publication added, citing official data.
Also, of these, in 2025, 417,000 were Romanians, reports Ayhan Gök, the provincial director for Culture and Tourism.
“There was a limited decrease compared to 2024, but Romania still remained among the main tourist issuing markets for Antalya. For us, this is an important signal. It shows that, despite some minor fluctuations, Romanian tourists continue to show a strong interest in Antalya”he declared, in a conference with Romanian journalists.
According to the official, in 2024, over 431,000 Romanians visited the province, a record level.
Many visitors seek out the sandy beaches and clean sea of the region, which has the largest number of Blue Flag certified beaches in the world.
The Blue Flag is an international certification granted by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which certifies that a beach, a tourist port or a nautical tourism operator complies with high standards of quality, safety and environmental protection.
In total, Turkey has 580 Blue Flag certified beaches, according to the ranking published by the organization.
What can you do in Antalya if you are not fond of the beach
Ayhan Gök claims that promoting Antalya as a destination for the whole year, not just for summer holidays, is a goal that the subordinate institution has been working on for a long time:
“Antalya is very well known around the world as a summer holiday destination. This is a great advantage, but Antalya is much more than that. It is a city that can offer different experiences throughout the year.”
He stated that the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) promotes Antalya, through the GoTürkiye platform, through social networks, digital campaigns, international television channels and thematic promotional films:
“These campaigns highlight not only the sea and beaches, but also history, archaeology, nature, gastronomy and sustainable tourism.”
Thus, tourists who want to discover other sides of Antalya can visit places such as Side, Perge, Aspendos, Phaselis, Kaleiçi, Belek, Kemer and Kekova.
In Kemer, tourists can take the cable car to the top of Mount Tahtalı, at 2,366 meters, from where they can admire the spectacular view. Tahtalı is also known as Lycian Olympus.
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“This helps showcase Antalya as a destination for culture, nature, sports, gastronomy and lifestyle experiences in all seasons.
At the local level, we also work through the Provincial Council for Promotion and Development. Public institutions, local authorities, TGA and representatives of the tourism sector come together to discuss what products should be promoted in each market, what events can support tourism and how Antalya can be more visible throughout the year”he added.
Ayhan Gök states that Antalya aims to strengthen itself as a tourist destination for all four seasons, not just the summer season. According to him, the region has a diversified offer, which includes golf, sports tourism, hiking trails, archaeological sites, medical tourism, gastronomy, festivals and international events.
“Antalya has very strong assets in this direction. Belek stands out for its gulf, Lara and its surroundings for sports camps, Lycian Way for nature and hiking trails, and ancient cities such as Side, Perge, Aspendos, Patara, Myra and Phaselis for cultural tourism”, said the provincial director for Culture and Tourism.
Another example of the cultural diversity that the authorities are trying to promote is Side, one of the most important archaeological sites in the region.
Although the city was founded by the Aeolian Greeks, a separate language was spoken here, which was not of Greek origin, writes Britanica.
Thanks to its strategic position and well-developed ports, Side became the most important commercial center of the ancient Pamphylia region. The city was occupied by Alexander the Great and played an important role in the history of the Mediterranean, including as an important center of the slave trade during the time of the Cilician pirates.
Today, it is known for its impressive ruins, among which the ancient theater stands out, considered one of the most beautiful in Anatolia.
Last but not least, the official added that medical tourism, gastronomy, festivals, concerts and international events contribute to expanding the attractiveness of the region beyond the summer season. In addition, the mild climate allows for outdoor activities in the fall and winter months as well.
“In many parts of Europe, outdoor activities become difficult in autumn and winter. In Antalya, the weather remains very suitable for cultural visits, sports camps, hiking and urban experiences”Ayhan Gök also said, arguing that the region can attract tourists throughout the year.
