The Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TTYD), in collaboration with Investment Office, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), hosted the Tourism Investment Forum (TIF) 2024 under the theme "Destination Future Türkiye." The event brought together international investors, financial institutions, banks, funds, global hotel brands, tourism thought leaders, technology innovators, and real estate developers to explore Türkiye's robust investment potential.
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek delivered keynote speeches during the forum. Vice President Yılmaz highlighted the transformative potential of the tourism sector, stating, “Tourism represents a significant economic activity. By 2033, it is projected to generate an economic volume of USD 15.5 trillion, creating 430 million jobs globally." Vice President Yılmaz also emphasized Türkiye's ambition to capture a larger share of this thriving global market.
Minister Şimşek elaborated on Türkiye's investment capabilities, noting, “Türkiye ranks among the world's relatively large economies. In our region, we are a key and rapidly growing economy." Şimşek further emphasized that Türkiye's average real growth of 4.8 percent over the past century positions the country ahead of many comparable countries. Şimşek concluded by underscoring that these growth figures affirm Türkiye's status as one of the fastest-growing emerging economies globally.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Culture and Tourism Deputy Minister Nadir Alpaslan, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Investment Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu, and TTYD President Oya Narin, addressing an audience comprising both domestic and international stakeholders.
In his speech, Dağlıoğlu highlighted the efforts under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership to make the “Türkiye Century" the “Investment Century." “We are committed to increasing tourism investments in Türkiye," Dağlıoğlu stated, emphasizing the country's role as the "Nexus of the World" and its leadership position in the region.
Dağlıoğlu also pointed out that international investors compare Türkiye with regions like Central and Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. “Türkiye currently ranks as the second most attractive investment destination in this region. Our ambition is to rise to the top," he remarked. He also drew attention to the surge in services sector investments in recent years and Türkiye's focus on attracting further capital in this domain.
Recognized as a leading B2B platform, TIF 2024 provided invaluable networking opportunities and fostered discussions on business strategies and financial prospects. The forum reaffirmed its status as a critical reference point for global tourism investments in Türkiye.