Tourists spent close to $6B on food in Turkiye in the first six months of 2026, and dining now stands as the largest single category of visitor spending in the country. Figures from the Turkish Statistical Institute, known as TurkStat, put food and drink spending at $5.9 billion between January and June. That total ran about 9% above the $5.43 billion recorded over the same stretch a year earlier.
The wider picture helps explain why this number matters. Türkiye tourism revenue 2026 reached $25.75 billion across the first half, and food carried a larger share of that figure than any other category. The pattern fits a longer shift in how the country earns from travel. Visitors are spending more at the table, and regional cuisine has become a direct source of income rather than a background detail.
Why food leads $6B in Turkiye
Turkey food and beverage spending climbed as travelers worked through a broad menu of local dishes. Doner, pide, lahmacun and home-style cooking drew steady demand across different parts of the country. Each region offers its own version of these staples, which gives repeat visitors a reason to keep eating out.
The rise in dining revenue tracks the amount visitors put toward regional food while traveling. TurkStat tourism data shows the category holding its lead through the period, a sign that culinary interest is now a fixed part of the trip for many arrivals rather than an occasional expense.
Shopping follows food in visitor spending
Retail took the next large share of tourist spending in Turkey. International visitors spent roughly $2.2 billion on clothing and footwear during the first half of the year. Souvenir purchases brought in a further $890.2 million over the same window.
Together, clothing and souvenirs added about $3.1 billion to the total. That places shopping well behind dining but ahead of the smaller categories, and it points to a spending mix weighted toward food and personal goods.
Smaller categories round out the total
Some categories stayed below the billion-dollar mark. Revenue from sports, education and cultural activities came to nearly $249 million between January and June. Spending grouped under other categories added about $618 million to Türkiye tourism income in the first half.
The gap between these figures and the near $6B on food in Turkiye shows how concentrated visitor spending has become. Dining alone accounts for close to a quarter of the country’s total tourism revenue for the period. For a sector that once leaned on accommodation and sightseeing, the strength in food marks a real change in where the money lands. The trend also gives regional restaurants and local producers a steady flow of foreign currency, tying the wider tourism economy more closely to what visitors choose to eat.
