The Metropolitan Municipality Introduced Muğla to 300,000 People at the International Fairs

21 May The Metropolitan Municipality Introduced Muğla to 300,000 People at the International Fairs

Between October 2024 and May 2025, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality participated in eight national and international fairs, promoting Muğla to about 300,000 people.

The Metropolitan Municipality continues to promote Muğla, one of the world’s and Türkiye’s leading tourism destinations, along with its 13 districts at national and international fairs, presenting its tourism potential to broad audiences. The process began in October 2024 with participation in the ITF Istanbul Tourism Fair. Since then, the Metropolitan Municipality has attended eight national and international fairs to introduce Muğla to the world. Approximately 300,000 people participated in these fairs held in some of the world’s most important capitals. Muğla Metropolitan Municipality promoted Muğla and its 13 districts with dedicated stands at fairs in Istanbul, Antalya, London, Berlin, Moscow, Dubai, and Izmir. In the coming days, the Metropolitan Municipality will continue its promotional efforts by participating in the ITB China 2025 Tourism Fair to be held in Shanghai, China.

With Ahmet Aras taking office as Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality following the 2024 local elections, the Municipality has adopted the vision of a “World City Muğla” and continues to strengthen its relations with global cities. By participating in major tourism fairs where key players of the tourism sector gather, the Metropolitan Municipality has been actively promoting Muğla. Following these efforts, a 6% increase in the number of tourists visiting Muğla was recorded in 2025. In the first four months of 2024, the number of tourists entering the country through Muğla’s customs gates was 239,593, while in the same period of 2025, this number rose to 254,096. Celal Cem Dengiz, Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Metropolitan Municipality, stated that the fairs held in world capitals have significantly strengthened information sharing, partnerships and promotional activities within the tourism sector and an increase in the number of tourists choosing Muğla has been observed.

International Support for the Sustainable City Vision

Through participation in national and international fairs, Muğla has been able to display not only its tourism potential but also its vision for sustainability and eco-friendly urban development to wide audiences. As a reflection of these efforts, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality qualified to receive a grant of 2,706,400 TL within the scope of the European Union-supported Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) 2023 program. With the internationally partnered Urban-CoLLaR project, the Municipality became a stakeholder in a model initiative aimed at the efficient use of environmental resources and neighbourhood-scale circular transformation in the Menteşe district.

Mayor Aras stated, “We have introduced and promoted Muğla, along with its 13 districts, at fairs held in some of the world’s most important capitals, from London to Moscow, from Dubai to Berlin.”

Ahmet Aras, President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, stated that they have set out with the vision of “World City Muğla” and are working to make Muğla, with its 13 districts and unique beauties, the tourism capital of the world.

Mayor Aras said, “With its historical richness and natural beauty inherited from the past, Muğla is a city that has become a brand in tourism. From Hippocrates to Herodotus, from the Fisherman of Halicarnassus to Can Yücel, we are carrying the flag passed down to us by fellow citizens who have introduced and immortalized Muğla through their names. We have promoted and represented our 13 districts at fairs held in some of the world’s most important capitals, from London to Moscow, from Dubai to Berlin. Our goal is to further increase the tourism potential and international visibility of our city. At the same time, we aim to ensure that our country and Muğla receive a greater share of tourism revenues. The tourism industry holds significant economic size and power. These fairs bring together a wide range of participants, including travel agencies, hotel and accommodation sector representatives, airline companies, tourism destinations, and tourism technology developers. By meeting with professionals in the sector, we are building new networks and developing new business relationships. With the vision of ‘World City Muğla,’ we will continue to promote our city in every field and take strong steps toward becoming the capital of tourism.”