Salah transfer expected to boost Egyptian visitors to Trabzon

Tourism officials in Trabzon, a Black Sea coastal city in northeastern Türkiye, expect more Egyptian visitors after Muhammed Salah’s transfer to the local football club, Trabzonspor.

The signing of the internationally known forward drew attention in the football community and helped increase the city’s global recognition, officials said.

Tamer Erdogan, Trabzon’s provincial director of culture and tourism, said the city welcomes visitors from many countries each year.

Known for its natural, historical and cultural sites, Trabzon was visited by 1,447,573 people last year, including 808,009 foreign visitors, according to Erdogan, who noted that visitor numbers have grown annually.

Erdogan said Salah’s transfer to Trabzonspor has drawn international attention to the city, adding that he expects the move to significantly boost local tourism. He noted that the transfer received wide coverage both in Türkiye and internationally.

“Salah is a globally known footballer. His transfer to Trabzon created major interest worldwide. He is followed on television networks around the world, and he also has millions of followers on social media. This has increased interest in our city,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan said Trabzonspor’s matches will be broadcast in 40 countries, which he said points to further growth in interest in the city. “The results will be felt more clearly going forward. Our city is currently in the global spotlight, and this will have a major impact on tourism,” he said. According to Erdogan, the province hosted 7,125 Egyptian tourists in 2025, while 3,170 Egyptian tourists visited in the first seven months of 2026.

Sumela Monastery stands on a cliff overlooking the Altındere Valley in Trabzon, Türkiye. (Adobe Stock Photo)

First charter flight from Cairo to Trabzon

Erdogan said the number of Egyptian visitors to the city in the first seven months of this year rose 14% compared with the same period last year, attributing part of the increase to the first charter flights between Cairo and Trabzon, launched following earlier negotiations.

He said Salah’s continued presence in Trabzon is expected to further increase the number of Egyptian visitors. “The first charter flight from Cairo to Trabzon began on the same day Salah arrived in the city. We will see a much higher number of Egyptian tourists in our city and across the country,” Erdogan said.

He added that the province is also conducting outreach in Far East and North Africa markets as part of efforts to diversify its visitor base.

Mehmet Ali Tuna, head of the Eastern Black Sea regional board of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), said the Cairo flights are expected to boost tourism.

He noted that Salah is also popular in Turkic-speaking countries, and said travel agencies have organized a package tour from Uzbekistan for Trabzonspor’s first home match of the league’s second week.

Tuna said the transfer has generated notable tourism engagement in the region, adding that the city must now use the opportunity.

Charter flights between Cairo and Trabzon began on Aug. 5 and are scheduled to run twice a week through the end of October, officials said.

August 15, 2026 07:15 AM GMT+03:00