Cities such as İstanbul, Antalya, İzmir and Ankara have become international meeting points welcoming not only tourists, but also heads of state, diplomats, academics, investors, artists, scientists and technology entrepreneurs. This transformation reflects a strong vision, comprehensive investments and Türkiye’s expanding organizational capacity.

Congress tourism is one of the most significant components of this transformation. With its high-standard hotels, modern congress centers, transportation infrastructure and secure organizational capability, Türkiye hosts thousands of academic, diplomatic and sectoral meetings every season, reinforcing a strategic pillar of the country’s year-round tourism objective.

CONGRESS TOURISM

In recent years, Türkiye has evolved from being a regional center of congress tourism into a global meeting hub. İstanbul, Antalya, İzmir and Ankara stand out among the preferred cities of multinational companies, academic communities, international organizations and diplomatic platforms thanks to their modern congress centers, high accommodation capacity, international transport networks and secure organizational infrastructure.

İstanbul in particular has positioned itself among the world’s leading congress cities with its rapidly rising performance according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Antalya, with its five-star hotels operating year-round and large conference halls, has become an indispensable venue for major medical, scientific, technological and international diplomacy meetings.

The added value generated by congress tourism in Türkiye is noteworthy:
• Per-capita spending is 3 to 4 times higher than in leisure tourism.
• A substantial portion of participants consists of decision-makers, academics, industry leaders and investors.
• Cultural and touristic excursions after congresses contribute directly to local economies.
• Thanks to its international organizational competence, Türkiye is progressing toward becoming a permanent host of numerous global events.

Additionally:
• The IIFF – İstanbul Furniture Fair welcomes thousands of foreign buyers by being held simultaneously in two major exhibition centers;
• Modef, Anfaş Hotel Equipment, Promosyon Show İstanbul, Türk-Arap Beauty Expo, Magrotex Mardin Agriculture Fair, İstanbul Hunting, Arms and Outdoor Sports Fair, and EXPO Health Tourism provide significant contributions in terms of regional development, specialization in niche sectors and new market connections.

This positions Türkiye as an attraction center for both sector-specific specialized exhibitions and large-scale international congresses and summits.

The medical congresses, academic summits, engineering conferences, diplomacy forums and scientific meetings held in recent years clearly demonstrate that Türkiye is not only a tourism country but also a center of science, economy, international relations and innovation. The growth of congress tourism aligns directly with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s strategic objective of “qualified, year-round tourism.”

TÜRKİYE’S SUCCESS IN EXHIBITIONS AND CONGRESSES

Over 20 Million People Welcomed at Exhibitions and Congresses. Türkiye has reached its highest figures in the exhibition and congress sector in recent years:

• The total number of exhibition and congress visitors exceeded 20 million in 2023–2024.
• A significant portion of these visitors come to the country for business purposes, and their average per-capita spending is 3-4 times higher than that of typical leisure tourists.
• According to ICCA data, İstanbul has rapidly risen among the world’s top congress cities, while Antalya has become a prominent congress destination even during the winter season with its high occupancy rates.

This picture is one of the most concrete indicators of the Ministry’s success in achieving its “fewer but higher-quality visitors” objective.

INTERNATIONALLY PRESTIGIOUS CONGRESSES

Türkiye hosts some of the world’s most prestigious congresses in diplomacy, gastronomy, healthcare, innovation and luxury tourism.

Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF)

Globally known as “the stage where diplomacy meets.” It brings together heads of state, foreign ministers, Nobel laureates and representatives of international organizations, reinforcing the message that Türkiye is a secure and respected global actor.

At the 2025 ADF, more than 6,000 guests from 155 countries attended. Participants included 21 heads of state and government, 64 ministers, representatives of international organizations, as well as numerous diplomats, business leaders, academics and members of the media.

The Forum serves as a platform for discussions on diplomacy, investment, foreign policy, international cooperation and global agendas, showcasing Türkiye’s soft-power capacity. This broad participation clearly demonstrates that Türkiye’s congress tourism infrastructure has become a secure, prestigious and preferred center for international diplomatic summits and high-level meetings.

Gastromasa (İstanbul)

Gastromasa, held in İstanbul, is a prestigious event bringing together Michelin-starred chefs, gastronomy writers and restaurant investors. It strengthens Türkiye’s gastronomy tourism potential, promotes the meeting of local products with global cuisine, and supports the high-end international promotion of Turkish cuisine, aligning with the Ministry’s gastronomy-focused promotional strategies.

DWP & RSVP – Luxury Wedding Congresses

These events bring together the world’s largest wedding planners, million-dollar event organizers and international agencies. They position İstanbul, Antalya and Bodrum as the leading centers of luxury wedding tourism in the region.

International Health and Medical Congresses

Türkiye hosts hundreds of international congresses in aesthetic surgery, dentistry, ophthalmology and sports medicine. These events directly support Türkiye’s rise in global health tourism.

TOP 5 GLOBAL MEGA EXHIBITIONS

Several major events elevate Türkiye to the forefront of global exhibition activities with their international recognition and visitor profiles:

EMITT – East Mediterranean International Tourism Exhibition (İstanbul)

In 2024, EMITT welcomed 28,815 visitors from 95 countries, with nearly 600 exhibitors. Most visitors consisted of tourism professionals, tour operators, international agency representatives and individual travelers, demonstrating the fair’s importance for business, promotion and investment tourism.

Thanks to exhibitions like EMITT, Türkiye’s tourism sector extends across all four seasons, generating foreign currency outside the summer season as well.

IDEF – International Defence Industry Exhibition (İstanbul)

A strategic exhibition attended by high-level defence delegations from more than 100 countries, showcasing Türkiye’s progress in defence technologies. At IDEF, 1,491 companies and institutions from 49 countries exhibited, while a total of 121,753 visitors from 114 countries attended.

These figures demonstrate that Türkiye can compete globally not only in tourism or culture but also in strategic areas such as defence industry, technology and trade through its exhibition-congress infrastructure.

Marble İzmir – International Natural Stone and Marble Exhibition

Recognized as the world’s largest marble exhibition, it attracts strong participation from China, India, the United States and European countries. Marble İzmir 2024 hosted more than 77,000 visitors and over 1,000 participating companies, with professional buyers from more than 20 countries. The event underscores İzmir’s strength in exhibition and congress tourism.

Istanbul Jewelry Show – International Jewelry Exhibition

Held twice a year, it is among the world’s top five jewelry exhibitions. In October 2024, the event welcomed 21,831 visitors from 134 countries, while over 1,000 brands, manufacturers and designers showcased their products. This high-spending visitor profile contributes directly to Türkiye’s luxury tourism vision.

Automechanika Istanbul

The largest event for the automotive aftermarket industry across Europe–Middle East–North Africa. The 2024 edition featured 1,450 exhibitors from 35 countries and 60,283 professional visitors, providing high added value to İstanbul’s economy, particularly through technical delegations and procurement groups.

WorldFood Istanbul – International Food Products and Technologies Exhibition

The flagship platform of Türkiye’s food and beverage industry. The 2024 event achieved record participation with 72,864 visitors, guests from 155 countries and 1,276 exhibitors from 43 countries. It provides a major procurement and business-development arena for market chains, hotel and restaurant groups, chefs and retail giants, while also contributing indirectly to gastronomy tourism.

UNICERA – Ceramics, Bathroom and Kitchen Exhibition

One of Europe’s leading design and manufacturing exhibitions in its sector. Its latest edition hosted visitors from more than 110 countries, increasing the global visibility of Turkish ceramics and bathroom brands.

Growtech – Antalya Agricultural Technologies Exhibition

One of the world’s key reference exhibitions in greenhouse cultivation and agricultural technologies. The 2024 event welcomed 39,575 international visitors and participants from 135 countries, generating significant economic activity in Antalya outside the peak tourism season.

FESTIVALS AND TECHNOLOGY EVENTS SHAPING THE FUTURE

TEKNOFEST – Türkiye’s Global Technology Vision

Since 2018, TEKNOFEST has become one of the world’s largest aviation, space and technology festivals, reflecting Türkiye’s National Technology Initiative and reaching more than 10 million visitors across major cities including İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Gaziantep, Samsun and Adana.

Beyond shows and aerial demonstrations, TEKNOFEST encourages technological production through competitions for young participants. Each year, more than 40 competitions are held in key fields such as:

• Artificial intelligence
• Autonomous vehicles
• Cybersecurity
• UAV and Armed UAV design
• Model satellite
• Rocket technologies
• Smart cities
• Energy technologies
• Healthcare AI
• Digital game development

In 2023, more than 350,000 teams and over 1 million young participants took part in these competitions: an ecosystem unmatched worldwide.

TEKNOFEST also makes a strong contribution to local economies. Hotel occupancy surges in host cities, while gastronomy and transportation sectors gain momentum. International participation grows every year, making TEKNOFEST a major brand showcasing Türkiye’s technological capability and innovative vision.

Today, TEKNOFEST is not merely a festival but a strategic platform demonstrating that Türkiye is a country that produces technology. It continues to support the nation’s global technology ambitions as a strong social movement guiding youth toward science, production and innovation.

GameX & GIST – Digital Entertainment and Esports Exhibitions

These international platforms welcome tens of thousands of young participants every year, representing the esports, gaming and digital entertainment sectors. They strengthen the image of a young, dynamic and digital Türkiye, making the country an attraction center for digital nomads and young entrepreneurs.

CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT

Participants of these events spend significantly not only at exhibition venues but also at hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, tourist locations, transfer services and tour operations.
Thus:

• Tourism expands across all 12 months,
• Foreign-currency inflow increases,
• Local economies gain momentum,
• Türkiye’s brand perception strengthens.

This demonstrates that Türkiye is no longer merely a “holiday country,” but a stage for trade, science, diplomacy and innovation.

With its recent performance in exhibitions, congresses, summits and mega events, Türkiye has become a global attraction center where continents meet, not just a tourism destination. Efforts carried out under the vision of “qualified visitors – four-season tourism” continue to strengthen Türkiye’s position in international organizations.

Today İstanbul, Antalya, İzmir and Ankara stand out as dynamic, secure and high-capacity centers that:

• Host millions of visitors at exhibitions,
• Bring world leaders and diplomats together at global summits,
• Unite scientists, academics and professionals at international congresses,
• Bring young people together at technology festivals.

The level reached by Türkiye’s organizational ecosystem is the result of modern infrastructure, a strong transportation network, deep experience in the tourism sector and an increasing brand value. The foreign-currency inflow, high spending potential and year-round economic contribution provided by exhibition and congress tourism constitute concrete indicators of quality-focused growth in national tourism revenues.

This picture delivers a clear message to the world: “Türkiye is not only visited; it is also a global center where business, science, diplomacy and innovation take place.”

In the coming period, the growing number of international congresses, prestigious exhibitions, diplomacy forums and technology events will continue to strengthen Türkiye’s global visibility and competitiveness.