Cruise ships, which started to come to İzmir again in 2022 as a result of the intensive efforts of İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer, make a great contribution to the city's economy. In 2023, İzmir hosted nearly 40 thousand guests with 31 cruises, and there is a great interest in 2024. Over 70 cruises have already booked for this year.

İzmir has become one of the favorite destinations of cruise ships thanks to the efforts initiated by İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer since the day he took office. While İzmir Alsancak Port is proud to host 31 cruises in 2023, the most pleasing news came for 2024. Thanks to the efforts of Mayor Tunç Soyer both at home and abroad, more than 70 cruises have made reservations this year. Welcoming nearly 40 thousand tourists in 2023, the people of İzmir expect the number to increase even more this year.

İzmir joins the Cruise Lines International Association

After İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer took office, another good news came after the cruises came to the city after years with the works, bilateral meetings and connections. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality took another important step to increase the cruise tourism potential of the city and became a member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Thanks to the membership, İzmir has joined a network of cruise companies, ports and destinations that are decision makers in cruise tourism.

What has been done for cruise tourism?

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality has made many arrangements for cruise tourism. Necessary arrangements have been made on the walking routes for the city. The Tourism Information Office in the harbor is operated by the personnel of the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism and the personnel of the Metropolitan Municipality Tourism Branch Directorate and distributes touristic city maps, informative brochures and brochures of walking routes (in English and German) to the guests. Free Wi-Fi internet service is provided at the port. In cooperation with the tourism police teams established within the municipality and the tradesmen's chambers, panhandling activities in the harbor area are prevented.

Technical studies ongoing

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Public Works Department teams renewed the preferential curbs on the sea side in 2022. Asphalt paving and patching works were carried out in the area. Road line works and edge curb works of green areas in the port have been completed. For the walking route of tourists in the harbor, a line was created with preferential curbs on the sides of the roads, and an area of approximately 7 thousand square meters was asphalted.  The exterior plasters of 2 hangars were renewed, painted and landscaped.