Following Türkiye's visa-free entry policy for Chinese citizens, Chinese flight searches for Türkiye increased sixfold in three days. The number of Chinese tourists, currently around 400,000, is expected to reach 1 million by the end of 2026. 

Türkiye has implemented a visa-free entry policy for Chinese citizens traveling for tourism and transit purposes. Following the announcement of the decision, flight searches from Chinese cities to Istanbul increased 6.3 times compared to the previous week, while flight searches to Antalya increased 1.3 times and searches for Izmir doubled. Industry representatives point out that Chinese tourists are among the visitor groups that spend the most worldwide.

It is stated that Chinese tourists spend between $2,500 and $5,000 per person per trip, and it is emphasized that this group is more interested in cultural, gastronomic, health, and religious tourism than in sun-sea-sand tourism. The number of Chinese tourists, which is currently around 400,000, is expected to reach 1 million by the end of 2026.