The summit is organized by UNWTO in collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey and The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).
On November 15, the summit started at Haliç Congress Center with the opening speeches by Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Secretary General of UNWTO Taleb Rifai, and Secretary General of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN- HABITAT) Joan Clos.
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Click to open image! TOBB President Rifat Hisarciklioglu
Click to open image! Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas
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Click to open image! Secretary General of UNWTO Taleb Rifai
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Click to open image! Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry Ertugrul Gunay
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Click to open image! Secretary General of UN- HABITAT Joan Clos
Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay pointing the location of the summit selected as Istanbul, said that Turkey’s growth in tourism and importance of Istanbul destination is well understand by the world.
Günay expressed that especially cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, and Antalya, Turkey’s cities are housing many important international events. “Development of cities are an important objectives of tourism. In this perspective, we are working to develop new international destinations to market together with Istanbul” added Günay.
summit-citytou-ist12TOBB President said, “Turkish Tourism is breaking new records together with Minister Günay’s leadership. There is a big increase in number of museums and artifacts presented around Turkey”.
Hisarcıklıoğlu shared their expectation of 50 million tourist and US$50billion income from tourism in Turkey by 2023 when Turkey will celebrate its 100th year as a Republic.
Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş said, “Now cities should consider tourism as the main target for sustainable development. One of the most important issues of sustainable development is tourism,”.
Topbaş added that Istanbul reached 150 thousand bed capacities and additional 38 thousand bed capacity is currently under construction, which soon will increase total capacity to 188 thousand.
Secretary General of UNWTO Taleb Rifai said he is very happy to be in Istanbul. “Istanbul is one of the most beautiful examples of city tourism,” said Rifai.
Rifai also announced that UNWTO is going to publish a report on 21 tourism cities. “Best place to announce the report is Istanbul. We will create a Declaration of Istanbul,” added Rifai.
Secretary General of UN- HABITAT; Joan Clos said Istanbul showed great development in tourism, urbanization and urban developments.
Clos also said that tourism cannot work together with war. Tourism works together with peace. Clos reminding that 20th century was full of wars, said tourism couldn’t realize with dictators. Clos added that tourism will be an important event of 21st century.
Calling attention to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s great vision by making Turkish Republic as world’s one of the first nation that give Turkish women equal rights and opportunities, Clos said that government should provide more employment opportunities for women and the most important area is tourism. |
Source : ftnnews.com
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