Iraq ranked third among the largest sources of foreign visitors to Turkiye in July 2026. Iraqi visitors to Turkiye reached more than 131,000 during the month. The figure shows continued growth in travel between Iraq and Turkiye.
Turkiye welcomed 131,607 Iraqi visitors in July, according to official tourism figures. The number increased from 121,191 visitors during July 2025. This represents an annual increase of 8.59%.
Iraqi travelers accounted for 1.85% of all foreign arrivals in Turkiye during July. Their share stood at 1.70% during the same month last year. The figure was even lower in July 2024, when Iraqis represented 1.53% of foreign visitors.
Iran remained the largest source of foreign visitors to Turkiye during July. A total of 322,256 Iranian citizens entered the country during the month. Iranian arrivals increased by 27.11% compared with July 2025.
Saudi Arabia ranked second with 191,125 visitors during the same period. However, arrivals from Saudi Arabia fell by 3.97% compared with the previous year. The contrasting figures show different travel trends among Turkiye’s major regional markets.
The strong Iraqi presence reflects the close links between Iraq and Turkiye. Travel between the two countries includes tourism, business, shopping, family visits, and medical travel. Turkiye remains a popular destination for many Iraqi travelers because of its proximity and transport connections.
The growth also highlights the importance of Iraqi travelers to Turkiye’s tourism industry. Their numbers have increased despite changes in regional travel patterns. Tourism businesses in major Turkish cities continue to attract visitors from neighboring countries.
Overall, Turkiye received more than one million visitors from Asian countries in July 2026. Official figures put the total at approximately 1.039 million arrivals. Asian travelers therefore represented an important part of Turkiye’s international tourism market.
The latest figures place Iraqi visitors to Turkiye behind only Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iraq’s position reflects the country’s growing contribution to Turkiye’s foreign tourism numbers. It also indicates sustained demand for travel between the neighboring countries.
Iraqi arrivals could remain an important part of Turkiye’s tourism sector during the coming months. Seasonal travel, holidays, business activity, and regional connectivity may influence future numbers. However, the July figures already show strong demand compared with previous years.
The continued rise in Iraqi visitors to Turkiye strengthens the tourism relationship between the two countries. It also creates opportunities for hotels, retailers, airlines, and other tourism-related businesses. Turkiye’s proximity to Iraq remains one of the key factors supporting this travel flow.