TTYD held TIF 2022, the “2nd Tourism Investment Forum”...

TIF 2022, the “2nd Tourism Investment Forum,” was held at the Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus by the Tourism Investors Association of Türkiye (TTYD). The opening session of the forum, which assessed investment opportunities and expectations for the period ahead in tourism in Türkiye and the region, was attended by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Istanbul Governor Mr. Ali Yerlikaya, President of the Presidency's Investment Office Mr. Burak Dağlıoğlu, İTO President Mr. Şekib Avdagiç and TİM President Mr. İsmail Gülle, TÜROB President Mrs. Müberra Eresin, along with numerous industry representatives, investors, operators and TTYD members.

Addressing investors in his opening speech at the forum, Minister of Culture and Tourism Ersoy stated that, in order to accelerate tourism investments, fast VAT offset and low-interest loan support of up to 50 billion lira would be provided for investments made through the end of 2025; that, with the amendment made to Law No. 2634, they had abolished the two separate certification systems—the ministry certificate and the municipality certificate—and introduced a requirement for a single ministry certificate; that the safe tourism certificate would gradually be converted into a green certificate after a 3-year program; and that, for Istanbul to become one of the world's most important home ports in cruise tourism, work had begun on a new port at Yenikapı in addition to Galataport.

In her speech, TTYD President Oya Narin said: “As the Turkish tourism sector, a global player in world tourism with an accommodation capacity of 1.8 million, carries out its strategic plans together with tourism NGOs and our Ministry, in the process of further developing its place on the global stage, we want to work more closely and together with our foreign friends and colleagues during this period. For Türkiye, with its young and dynamic population, will be among the fastest-growing countries in its region over the next 10 years. To put this claim into data: in 2020 the median age was 32.7, the share of the population aged 15–24 was 19%, the share of the working-age population aged 15–64 was 66.7, and the child population ratio, at 27%, is above that of all EU countries. If we take transformational steps in tourism, the additional growth boost this will bring to the country's growth is 1.6 points. Ladies and gentlemen, this additional growth, which sounds small, on its own represents an economy of 130 billion dollars based on today's gross domestic product figures.”

NG Hotels Chairman of the Board and TÜROB Vice President Hediye Güral Gür and Divan Hotels Türkiye CEO and TÜROB Board Member Murat Tomruk, who took part as panelists in the “The Success and Future of Turkish Hotel Chains” session held at the forum, shared information about the visions and plans of domestic hotel chains operating in our country for the coming period.

On behalf of TÜROB, the forum was attended by President Müberra Eresin, Vice President Hediye Güral Gür, Secretary General İsmail Taşdemir, and Board Members Uğur Talayhan, Banu Dedeman, Uygar Koçaş, Kasım Zoto, Recep Arifoğlu and Murat Tomruk.

Detailed information about the forum is provided via the www.tif.com.tr website.