President Eresin took part in the "Presidents’ Session" held within the scope of the ITF.

Müberra Eresin, President of TÜROB the Association of Turkish Hoteliers, took part in the “Presidents’ Session” held within the scope of the İstanbul Tourism Fair and moderated by journalist Hakan Güldağ, together with Oya Narin, Chair of TTYD the Turkey Tourism Investors Association.

TÜROB President Müberra Eresin noted that, although occupancy rates in our country’s hospitality sector have remained stable, average selling prices and profitability have fallen significantly, and stated that unregistered accommodation, rising costs and the fixed exchange rate are straining the sector. Emphasizing that they are optimistic despite the uncertainties for 2026, Eresin said that promotional activities are continuing strongly and that congress tourism is of strategic importance. She conveyed that there is a need for both domestic and foreign labor in the sector, that work permits should be made easier, and that foreign students should be granted part-time permits. Stressing that the inclusion of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the Economic Coordination Board would befit the sector’s strategic importance, Eresin stated that countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt have become strong competitors with their large tourism investments, and that Türkiye, for the sake of sustainability, needs to take swift and determined steps in areas such as digitalization, security, transportation infrastructure and the fight against the informal economy.

About the Fair:
The İstanbul Tourism Fair, held for the third time this year, has the distinction of being an event open only to professional visitors. At the fair, held in an indoor area of approximately 10,000 square meters, 296 participating companies—ranging from sector organizations, including TÜROB, to hotel chains, tour operators, airlines and local administrations—are coming together with tourism professionals from 50 different countries. While approximately 2,500 B2B (business-to-business) meetings are planned to be held during the fair, the event is expected to be visited by more than 15,000 tourism professionals. In addition, various sector panels, talks and presentations are being held with the participation of more than 70 national and international speakers.