An Italian landing in Istanbul...

Through the initiatives of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, THY and TÜROB, and with significant contributions from sector associations, the annual meeting of Welcome Travel Spa, one of Italy's largest tour operators, has been secured for Istanbul. The event, which will be attended by a thousand senior tourism professionals, will take place in February. TÜROB Vice President Müberra Eresin said: "We expect this event to bring a morale boost to the sector and to generate serious renewed momentum in the Italian market. Its importance lies in its potential to make Istanbul's star shine again in the years ahead and to pave the way for the city to attain the status of a congress hub."

Tourism professionals are preparing to deliver an event that could pave the way for Türkiye to return to its former heyday in congress tourism. Through the initiatives of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, THY and the Association of Turkish Hoteliers (TÜROB), and with significant contributions from organizations such as the Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) and TÜRSAB, the general assembly meeting and 20th anniversary celebration events of Welcome Travel Spa, one of Italy's largest tour operators, have been secured for Istanbul. The event, which will be attended by approximately a thousand senior tourism professionals, will take place at the Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Center in February 2019. Providing information on the matter, TÜROB Vice President Müberra Eresin noted that the idea of holding this event in Istanbul came about as a result of the contacts established with Welcome Travel officials, primarily by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Rome Promotion Counselor's Office and THY's Rome office. Eresin stated that, following the initial talks, the meeting was secured for Istanbul as a result of intensive work carried out at the TTG Rimini Tourism Fair held last month by Welcome Travel officials and representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Rome Promotion Counselor's Office, TÜROB and THY.

It could turn into a promotional push

Noting that Rome Culture and Promotion Counselor Serra Aytun Roncaglia and THY Rome Director Mustafa Hakan Yılmaz in particular made intensive efforts on this matter, Eresin said: "Welcome Travel Spa has more than 600 sales offices across Italy. The entire senior leadership of these offices will be coming. This event will be one of the most comprehensive meetings held in Istanbul in recent years. A participant count of a thousand people may not be very large, but having secured the congress for Istanbul is highly positive from a strategic standpoint. The event could be a forerunner of Istanbul's return to its bright congress days. In this respect, we expect it to bring a morale boost to the sector. Moreover, it is an event that could pave the way for Istanbul to once again attain the status of a congress hub in the years ahead. Ultimately, Istanbul's hosting of the congress will support a positive perception, awareness and the destination's renewed prominence. For us, it could turn into a very important promotional push."

Record attendance confirmed within 48 hours

Pointing out that even Welcome Travel's CEO was very surprised by the interest in the Istanbul event, Eresin said: "When Welcome Travel announced to its network that the congress would be held in Istanbul, 400 people confirmed their attendance within 48 hours. The company's CEO conveyed that they were very surprised to receive so many attendance confirmations in such a short time."

Italy's most important federation is also coming

Drawing attention to the fact that many other very important tourism groups will be hosted in Istanbul at the end of January, Eresin provided the following information: "Again, as a result of the intensive efforts of Rome Culture and Promotion Counselor Serra Aytun Roncaglia and THY Rome Director Mustafa Hakan Yılmaz, together with our own contacts, the Italian Tourism Federation, known by its acronym FTO, has also decided to hold its Board of Directors meeting in Istanbul at the end of January. The CEOs of Italy's largest tourism companies will attend the meeting. It is small in terms of participant numbers but highly influential, with 30 people attending. This too will be a meeting with the effect of revitalizing the Italian tourism market, which has lost considerable ground over the past 2-3 years."

Saying "From this point on, we can capture a ray of hope in congress tourism," Eresin continued: "This is the impression we are getting in our talks on the international stage. We hope that from 2019 onwards, Türkiye and Istanbul will once again be on the route of international events. An international congress is not secured overnight. Congress tourism requires not short-term but long-term planning. In 2013, on a country basis, Türkiye ranked 18th in the world; on a city basis, Istanbul ranked 8th. That was an extraordinary success. Returning to our former level in the rankings could take at least 2-3 years, provided there are no setbacks. Every event that helps elevate the image will ensure that the direction of international congresses and meetings turns back toward Türkiye and Istanbul, and that Istanbul becomes a 'fashionable city' once again. Istanbul is Türkiye's biggest brand, not only in tourism but in almost every field. We must cherish this brand with the utmost care. We are taking the steps that will once again place Istanbul among the favorite cities of congress tourism. Türkiye's goal should be to increase revenue rather than the number of tourists. This will be the most important factor in boosting Türkiye's tourism revenues."