Türkiye’s Invisible Export Power: TV Series and Tourism Economy

Date: February 5, 2026
Category: Foreign Trade / Tourism / Cultural Economy
Editor: ASM Global News Desk

Turkish TV Series: The New Face of Cultural Exports

Türkiye is among the world’s leading exporters of television dramas. Local productions enjoy strong demand across the Middle East, Balkans, Latin America, Central Asia, and Europe.

Through its TV series industry, Türkiye generates significant foreign currency income from:

Broadcasting and licensing rights
Digital platform sales
Format exports
International co-productions

These revenues are classified as service exports and contribute directly to the country’s foreign trade balance.

Tourism Growth Driven by Screen Productions

Turkish TV series have evolved into powerful global promotion tools. The cities, historical landmarks, and natural landscapes featured in these productions inspire international audiences to visit Türkiye.

This phenomenon is internationally known as “screen tourism.”

Destinations such as:

Istanbul’s historic districts
Cappadocia
Antalya’s coastline
The Black Sea highlands

have gained substantial international visibility through TV productions.

Many foreign visitors choose Türkiye specifically to experience locations they have seen in popular series.

Government-Supported Promotion Strategy

The integration of TV series and tourism is actively supported by public institutions, particularly:

Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı
Türkiye Turizm Tanıtım ve Geliştirme Ajansı

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has emphasized that digital content and mini-series play a vital role in increasing tourism revenues and strengthening Türkiye’s global image.

Through these initiatives, the country’s international brand value continues to grow.

Global Reach Through Digital Platforms

The expansion of global streaming services has significantly increased the international reach of Turkish productions.

Leading platforms such as:

Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Disney+

enable Turkish series to reach audiences in dozens of countries simultaneously.

This global exposure provides highly cost-effective international promotion compared to traditional advertising campaigns.

Contribution to Export Performance

The synergy between TV production and tourism creates a multi-layered economic structure.

Direct Contributions

Production export revenues
Licensing and broadcasting rights
Digital distribution income

Indirect Contributions

Tourist spending
Hotel and accommodation revenues
Transportation and guiding services
Retail and gastronomy sectors

This integrated system generates a strong multiplier effect, ensuring sustainable foreign currency inflows.

Strategic Advantages for Türkiye

The TV series–tourism integration offers three major advantages:

✔️ Low Cost – High Return

A single successful TV production can deliver greater impact than multi-million-dollar advertising campaigns.

✔️ Long-Term Brand Value

Through its TV dramas, Türkiye is positioned not only as a tourism destination but also as a cultural hub.

✔️ Sustainable Export Model

As a non-physical export sector, this model remains resilient during global economic fluctuations.

Future Outlook

Industry experts anticipate that Türkiye will further strengthen its position by:

Expanding international co-productions
Increasing tourism-themed content
Enhancing digital production capabilities
Highlighting regional and cultural narratives

These efforts are expected to position Türkiye as a global center for cultural exports.

Conclusion

Turkish TV series and tourism represent some of Türkiye’s most powerful invisible export assets.

Through this ecosystem, Türkiye:

Exports its culture and lifestyle
Strengthens its national brand
Increases foreign currency revenues
Expands its global influence

Today, the TV series industry is not merely part of the entertainment sector, but a strategic component of Türkiye’s foreign trade and economic development policy.