International Istanbul Tourism Fair Brings Industry Professionals Together
ITF 2026 brought together over 345 companies from 29 countries and 300 hosted buyers from 39 countries in Istanbul, hosting thousands of B2B meetings and a heavy influx of visitors.
The International Istanbul Tourism Fair laid the groundwork for new collaborations by bringing thousands of visitors and international tourism professionals together in Istanbul over the two-day event.
Fair Visitor and Meeting Data
The International Istanbul Tourism Fair hosted 17,318 visitors over two days, while 9,405 B2B meetings were held within the scope of the fair. In the organization, which featured over 345 participating companies from 29 countries, 300 international buyers from 39 countries came together with Turkish tourism professionals.
Broad Geographical Participation and Promotion
Professionals coming from a wide geography extending from the UK and Europe to CIS countries, the Middle East, America, the Asia-Pacific, Australia, and Africa had the opportunity to evaluate Turkey's different tourism products and destinations. The programs organized for international buyers who came to Istanbul within the scope of the Hosted Buyer program ensured the direct experience of the city.
Mete Vardar's Evaluations
Dream Project Chairman of the Board Mete Vardar evaluated the point reached by the International Istanbul Tourism Fair in its fourth year, drawing attention to the fact that ITF has developed not just as a fair, but as a platform that strengthens Turkey tourism's connections in international markets. Vardar stated that the belief that Istanbul can be a center where world tourism does business has found a response.
Volkan Ataman's Statements
Dream Project Board Member and CEO Volkan Ataman stated that ITF grows in a planned manner every year, and that they will continue to expand the qualified Hosted Buyer Program and develop the B2B volume. Ataman emphasized that success is measured by contacts that turn into cooperation.
Tourism Summit and Sessions
The Tourism Summit held within the scope of ITF 2026 hosted 83 speakers under 17 different session titles. The summit addressed the future of global tourism, the hotel management of the future, destination positioning, sustainable tourism, new generation tourism, Europe-Turkey tourism relations, and hotel investments.
Sustainability and Carbon Footprint
Under the heading of sustainable tourism, economic resilience, operational efficiency, and competitiveness were brought to the agenda alongside environmental responsibility. It was aimed to reveal the environmental impact of the event through concrete data by measuring the carbon footprint of ITF 2026.
Next Year's Goals
The International Istanbul Tourism Fair will be held at the Istanbul Expo Center on November 25-26, 2027, in an area of 24,000 square meters. In its fifth year, it is planned to bring industry professionals together in a wider meeting area in its new home.