İstanbul to offset congress tourism losses with football: Each final brings 50,000 visitors, but the real contribution is to the country's image

TÜROB President Timur Bayındır said that Türkiye's hosting of the UEFA Super Cup in 2019 and the UEFA Champions League Final in 2020 will be a signal flare for the return of large-scale international events. Pointing out that each final means at least 50,000 foreign visitors coming to İstanbul, Bayındır said, “But more importantly, it will be the contribution to our image.”

Türkiye Otelciler Birliği (TÜROB) President Timur Bayındır said that Türkiye's hosting of the UEFA Super Cup in 2019 and the UEFA Champions League Final in 2020 will be a signal flare for the return of large-scale international events, not only in the field of sports but in other areas as well. Pointing out that each final means at least 50,000 foreign visitors coming to İstanbul, Bayındır said, “But beyond the short-term increases, events of this kind will be very beneficial in restoring the image of Turkish tourism, of Türkiye and of İstanbul. Their effects will be positive and lasting.”

Final Four had a positive impact

Noting that a similar effect was observed at the 2017 THY Euroleague Final Four held in İstanbul last year, Bayındır emphasized that, as a sector, they have supported Türkiye's candidacy to host UEFA Euro 2024 from the very first day. Recalling that Antalya was once a training camp center for domestic and foreign sports clubs, predominantly football, Bayındır drew attention to the fact that the number of foreign clubs holding camps in Antalya has declined over the past few years. Bayındır stated that an increase in international sports events hosted by our country would be a factor in Antalya once again becoming a training camp center for sports clubs.

We will become 'fashionable' again

Saying “As a sector, our support for events of this kind is complete,” Bayındır added: “Over the past two years, many events such as international meetings, congresses and sports tournaments were cancelled on the pretext of security. Although security has ceased to be an everyday concern in our lives, we see that this perception deliberately created in foreign circles is dissipating. Events of this kind are also of a nature that will help completely eliminate the negative perceptions directed at our country. Up until two years ago, Türkiye ranked among the top 20 in the world by country in terms of the number of international congress events, while İstanbul ranked in the top 10 by city. Today, unfortunately, we are far down the rankings. Every event that helps raise the image will ensure that international congresses and meetings turn back toward Türkiye and İstanbul, and that İstanbul once again becomes a 'fashionable city.' This will also be the most important driving force in increasing Türkiye's tourism revenues.”

A very important opportunity for promotion

Emphasizing that these events reach broad audiences, President Bayındır said, “We need to turn these events into an important promotional opportunity right now, launching effective films and promotional campaigns for İstanbul and Türkiye, and broadcasting the films to be prepared to broad audiences via television during the matches as well.”

The UEFA Super Cup Final will be held on 14 August 2019 at Beşiktaş Vodafone Park, and the UEFA Champions League Final on 30 May 2020 at Atatürk Olympic Stadium. Türkiye is also a candidate to host UEFA Euro 2024.