Turkish government's travel expenses hit record 8.3 billion lira in July

Despite ongoing economic struggles and high inflation affecting millions of Turkish citizens, government spending on travel expenses has reached unprecedented levels. In July alone, public institutions spent 8.3 billion lira on travel, setting a new monthly record.

These expenditures, which cover the travel, food, and accommodation costs for personnel assigned to domestic and international duties, have accumulated significantly. From January to July of 2026, the total amount spent on these "yolluk" expenses reached 22.9 billion lira. This figure is already approximately 80% of the total travel expenses incurred throughout the entire previous year, 2025, which stood at 28.8 billion lira.

The surge in spending is particularly notable as it occurred despite the implementation of austerity measures. A general circular on austerity, introduced in May 2024, aimed to promote savings in public resources and specifically limit travel expenditures. However, these measures have apparently failed to curb the rising costs associated with official travel.

Looking at the historical trend, public institutions' travel expenses have shown a consistent and dramatic increase. In 2021, the total was 2.5 billion lira. This rose to 5 billion lira in 2022, then to 11.8 billion lira in 2023, and 19.4 billion lira in 2024, before reaching 28.8 billion lira in 2025. The current year's figures for just the first seven months indicate a continued upward trajectory.