BARAN: "ANKARA, A HIDDEN TREASURE IN THE HEART OF ANATOLIA, WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED"

BARAN: "WE CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TOWARDS THE 100 BILLION DOLLAR TOURISM REVENUE TARGET"

06-03-2025- The Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) participated in the Berlin International Tourism Exchange Fair (ITB Berlin), one of the most significant gatherings in the global tourism industry, by opening a stand. ATO President Gürsel Baran personally introduced Ankara to the visitors, and the ATO stand, which attracted great interest, was also visited by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. The stand featured visuals of the Gordion Ancient City, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and also hosted a sand art performance by artist VeyselÇelikdemir . ATO President Gürsel Baran emphasized that they continue working towards Turkey's 2028 target of achieving 100 billion dollars in tourism revenue.

This year, ATO participated in ITB Berlin, one of the world's largest tourism fairs held in Berlin, Germany, from March 4-6, with a stand of approximately 50 square meters. Under the "Congress and Visitors Bureau" brand, ATO promoted Ankara's tourism potential, while under the "Health Ankara" brand, it highlighted the city's health tourism opportunities. The ATO stand, which carried the slogan and logo "The Gateway of Anatolia to the World," symbolized the Chamber's efforts to support its members in expanding into international markets. Digital catalogs of ATO member companies operating in the health tourism sector were also shared with visitors.

ATO President Gürsel Baran, ATO Vice President Temel Aktay, and ATO Board Members Ahmet Akça and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Çaðlar Yýlmaz attended ITB Berlin, where global leaders from the hospitality industry, travel agencies, tour operators, system providers, airlines, and car rental companies were present. They actively promoted Ankara's historical and cultural richness, as well as its potential in health tourism. The ATO stand, which drew significant attention, included a 3D visual presentation showcasing Ankara's cultural heritage and UNESCO-listed Gordion Ancient City. Additionally, artist Veysel Çelikdemir performed a live sand art demonstration at the stand.

ANKARA'S TOURISM POTENTIAL ON THE GLOBAL STAGE

Commenting on the fair, ATO President Gürsel Baran highlighted ITB Berlin's significance as a powerful platform for promotion. "As the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, we have showcased the tourism potential of our capital on the global stage by opening a stand at ITB Berlin, one of the most important meeting points of the world tourism industry. Ankara is a hidden treasure in the heart of Anatolia, waiting to be discovered. Our duty is to introduce this treasure to the world, transform it into tourism revenue, and contribute to both our capital and national economy. Tourism is a rapidly growing sector with different segments, bringing net foreign exchange income to our country while also fostering growth in numerous related industries. As the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, we are committed to promoting our capital's historical and cultural values, as well as its potential in thermal and health tourism, congress tourism, shopping tourism, and gastronomy tourism. The ITB Berlin Fair, which hosts leading figures and professionals in the tourism sector, has been an excellent platform for our promotional efforts," he said. Baran reiterated that ATO continues its efforts in alignment with Turkey's 2028 goal of achieving 100 billion dollars in tourism revenue.

During the fair, ATO President Gürsel Baran and his delegation visited various stands, including the Turkey National Pavilion set up by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The ATO delegation also met with Antalya Metropolitan Mayor Muhittin Böcek, TÜRSAB President Firuz Baðlýkaya, Sabah Newspaper columnist Yavuz Donat, chamber and exchange presidents, AK Party MKYK Member and businessman Erkan Güral, as well as ATO members including Anadolu Tourism Operators Association (ATÝD) President Birol Akman, ATÝD Coordinator Garip Uysal, and TÜRSAB Member Muhammet Sarýtaþ.