Turkey ‘closely watching’ Iran-Israel conflict amid tourism fears | World | News

The ongoing Iran-Israel conflict could have consequences for Turkey‘s tourist trade this summer, with millions of international visitors previously flocking from the Middle Eastern regions. Over three million Iranians holidayed in Turkey last year, according to the Hurriyet Daily News, making up 5.2% of all foreign foot traffic. Almost 950,000 Iranian tourists also flocked to the country on holiday over the first four months of 2025, making up the third-highest group of international visitors, behind Germany and Russia.

While the newly-escalated tensions between Iran and Israel have caused a temporary spike in Iranian arrivals in Turkey as terrified locals flee the the conflict, if the campaign of strikes on both sides continues, it could have serious repercussions for the nation’s summer holiday trade. Such fears have been exacerbated by growing numbers of Iranians returning to their home country by bus after airspaces were closed following the launch of missile attacks between the two states last week, local media reports.

“Before, there was a high influx of Iranians coming to Turkey. Now, it is the other way around, they are returning to their country because of the war,” a Turkish bus driver said.

The country also welcomed around 770,000 Israeli visitors to Turkey last year, marking a huge 89% drop from the previous year.

However, before tensions between Iran and Israel entered dangerous new territory this month, Israeli footfall in Turkey had been on the ascent, with arrivals during the first four months of 2025 marking a year-on-year rise of around 50%.

As well as dealing a potential blow to its tourism sector, officials in Turkey fear its 348-mile border with Iran could put its own security at risk as bombardment continues to escalate between the two sides.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to act as a mediator between Iran and Israel during a televised address on Monday, and warned Israel that it should take a negotiation-led approach to dealing with Iran’s nuclear program.

“We have argued from the very beginning” for negotiations, he said. “Today, we are at the same point.”

“Israel, which attacks Iran with the unlimited support from the West, destroys Gaza, and bullies every country in the region, is not aware of what it is doing,” Erdogan added.

“Perhaps it will realise its mistake in the future, but we are afraid that by then it will be too late.”