05 Dec Mayor Aras Attends the 19th International Tourism Trade Fair
Ahmet Aras, President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, participated in the 19th International Tourism Trade Fair and Congress as a speaker. In his address at the congress, Mayor Aras reiterated his call for unity among all stakeholders to highlight the historical and cultural richness of the Aegean region.
The International Tourism Trade Fair and Congress, one of Türkiye’s most significant tourism gatherings, was held in İzmir between 3 and 5 December.
Mayor Aras took part as a speaker in the Metropolitan Mayors Session, which was moderated by Dr. Cemil Tugay, Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. During the session, Mayor Aras delivered important remarks on tourism, local governments, and the role of the Aegean and Mediterranean regions in the tourism sector.
Bringing together tourism professionals from around the world each year, the TTI İzmir Tourism Fair continues to shape the future of the sector by presenting the latest innovations, developments, and business opportunities in the tourism industry.
Important Visits to the Metropolitan Municipality’s Stand
At the TTI İzmir Tourism Fair, the stand of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality was visited by Nezir Pivić, Prime Minister of the Government of Doboj Canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Samir Sibonjić, Minister of Economy; Jasmin Čajić, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Affairs; Dženana Ćišija, Minister of Finance; Fikri Ataoğlu, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; Bauyrzhan Akatayev, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in İzmir; Besim Dutlulu, Mayor of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality; Firuz Bağlıkaya, President of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB); and Mehmet İşler, Chair of the Ethics Board of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation (TÜROFED).
Mayor Aras: “We Are Preparing Muğla’s Long-Term Roadmap for Tourism”
Ahmet Aras, President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, began his remarks in the session by highlighting the role and significance of local governments in tourism. Mayor Aras stated: “Local governments and municipalities have a major mission regarding the city’s infrastructure, traffic, landscaping, aesthetics, order, and overall organization. These responsibilities demonstrate the importance of local governments in tourism. Municipalities, together with the representatives of the central government in the provinces — the governor’s offices, district governorships, the tourism bureaucracy, professional chambers, chambers of commerce, industry and tradesmen, NGOs, and hotelier associations — must act in unison. The key to success lies in this unity. I would like to give a concrete example of this. Immediately after taking office following the elections in Muğla, we established the Tourism Strategy Development Platform with all stakeholders. Under the leadership of our municipality, the academic community, university, sector representatives, and the central government came together. We must develop a shared strategy. Every institution is trying to do something, but first we wanted to put forward a strategic tourism plan for Muğla, and then manage the process accordingly. Together with the Tourism Faculty of our university and other stakeholders, we have begun preparations for the strategic plan. We are preparing our long-term roadmap.”
“We Have Every Possible Instrument, and It Is Up to Us to Come Together”
“We possess an extraordinary wealth. The Aegean basin — İzmir, Denizli, Aydın, Balıkesir, Manisa, and Muğla — all have important instruments for tourism. Someone visiting the Aegean should not leave Denizli without seeing Hierapolis and Pamukkale, and someone coming to Muğla should not leave without seeing Stratonikeia and that historical route. We are home to the Carian, Lycian, and Ionian civilizations. By creating cultural routes and day-trip excursions, these cities can be brought together. The Aegean and Mediterranean regions are among the world’s most important historical and cultural centers in tourism. We have every possible instrument in our hands, and it is up to us to come together,” he said.
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