TÜROB-Association of Turkish Hoteliers' April “Monthly Information Meeting and Traditional Luncheon” held with strong attendance, hosted by The Marmara Taksim.

Speaking at the opening of the program, TÜROB President Müberra Eresin assessed the current state of Turkish tourism and its vision for the future. Noting that the sector has maintained its resilience during a period of global geopolitical tensions and economic fluctuations, Eresin stated that the announced 60 billion TL Tourism Support Package is a critical lifeline for the sector, adding: “We thank our esteemed Minister of Culture and Tourism for this visionary step. However, alongside this, the development of more targeted, segment-based solutions that take cost balance into account, particularly for businesses with different dynamics such as city hotels, will shape the next 10 years for the sake of sustainability.” Describing the return of the Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix to Istanbul as a strategic victory, Eresin stated that this development would elevate Turkey’s international perception and brand value over the long term. She underlined that TÜROB would continue to be one of the strongest stakeholders in this process. Noting that the global promotional activities carried out in cooperation with TGA, İTO and TUGEV are no longer merely a marketing activity but a "competitive strategy," Eresin stated that they have taken an active role across a broad geography, from Kazakhstan to Berlin and from New York to Frankfurt. Eresin concluded her remarks by stating that she believes Turkish tourism, with its transformative power to redefine itself under all circumstances, will achieve a stronger, more sustainable and more competitive structure for 2026 and beyond.

Taking the podium, Kemal Akpınar, Secretary General of the Eastern Black Sea Development Agency (DOKA) — which is headquartered in Trabzon and established to serve our provinces of Artvin, Giresun, Gümüşhane, Ordu, Rize and Trabzon — announced that, under the “Local Development Initiative Incentive Program” implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, “Nature-Based Tourism Investments,” which also include accommodation facilities in our provinces of Artvin, Giresun, Gümüşhane and Rize, as well as “Alternative Tourism Investments” in our province of Trabzon, have been brought within the scope of incentives, and shared the details with participants.

The final speaker to take the podium, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan, drew attention to the effects of global developments on tourism, stating that the current period is not unique to Turkey and that the world’s leading tourism destinations are also facing similar fluctuations. Noting that regional tensions, geopolitical developments and fluctuations in international travel movements directly affect the sector, Alpaslan stated that the Ministry is continuing its work on the process with all stakeholders, foremost among them TÜROB.

Following the speeches, TÜROB President Müberra Eresin presented a plaque on behalf of The Marmara Taksim hotel for hosting the organization to Ata Eremsoy, President of Operations of The Marmara Group, and Erkan Öğüt, General Manager of The Marmara Taksim.  Membership certificates were presented to TÜROB’s new members, and the meeting participants and protocol guests had a commemorative photograph taken.

The event was attended by Istanbul Deputy Governor Fahrettin Göncü, İBB Council Second Deputy Chairman Gökhan Gümüşdağ, İTO Board Member and TUGEV Deputy Chairman Bahadır Yaşık, former TÜROB president Timur Bayındır, TÜROB founding member Demir Sözmen, and many others, including TÜROB Board Members, public and private sector representatives, foreign missions, TÜROB members, members of the press and invited guests.