site.btaSmart Technology Benefits Tourism in Istanbul

Smart technology is gaining an increasingly more active role in the tourism sector of Turkiye. Digitization and smart solutions dominated the presentations of Turkish companies at the 28th Eastern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel (EMITT) Exhibition, which took place in Istanbul early-February.

Due to the city of Istanbul spreading across a huge area, the introduction of advanced digital booking systems, the optimization of routes through artificial intelligence, and the increased use of eco-friendly transport models are the main factors that improve the experience of foreign and domestic tourists alike during their visits to the megalopolis.

An important place in the process of transformation of the tourism industry is taken by the demand for environmentally friendly transfer services, which has increased by 35% in the last two years, according to data on EMITT's website. Istanbulturtransfer.com General Manager Ahmet Fevzioglu said: "Both domestic and international visitors are showing great interest in environmentally friendly transfer options. This encourages us to invest more and develop green solutions."

According to tourism experts, traditional transport solutions no longer meet tourists' expectations, as they are looking for pre-planned and reliable transport alternatives, mainly to minimize traffic congestion, which is one of Istanbul's biggest problems.

According to the Istanbul District Culture and Tourism Directorate, 1,258,000 tourists visited Istanbul in January 2025, or 8.8% more compared to the same period of the previous year. The biggest share of tourists arrived from Russia, followed by Germany, the US and the UK.