08 Feb UCLG-MEWA Committee on Culture and Tourism Meeting Held in Muğla Under the Hosting of Mayor Aras
The Presidency and Committee Meeting of the United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia (UCLG-MEWA) Committee on Culture and Tourism was held on February 7 in Muğla, hosted by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality.
The meeting, held in Akyaka, was chaired by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, who also serves as the President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and as Chair of the UCLG-MEWA Committee on Culture and Tourism.
Strong International Participation Highlighted
The meeting brought together local government representatives from different countries, as well as senior officials from international organizations, in addition to participants from Türkiye. Among the international guests were Issa Nazzal, Vice Mayor of Beit Jala Municipality (Palestine); Mehdi Fallahi Panah, Head of the Department of Internationalization and Comparative Studies of Tehran Municipality; Meisam Fekri, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Tehran Municipality; and Seyedmohammadmahdi Hosseini, Head of the Department of International Relations.
Jordi Pascual, UCLG Deputy Secretary General for Knowledge and Learning and Coordinator of the Culture Committee, contributed to the meeting online from Barcelona, providing an international perspective. In addition, 65 member cities of the Committee from Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, Palestine, and Türkiye followed the meeting online.
Co-Chairs of the UCLG-MEWA Committee on Culture and Tourism, Hasan Kılca, Mayor of Karatay, and Ali Ertuğrul Bul, Mayor of Ürgüp, as well as Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar—who also serves as UCLG-MEWA Co-President and Cultural Ambassador—were among the participants from Türkiye.
The meeting was held in a hybrid format, bringing together approximately seventy local government representatives to discuss the future of culture and tourism in the region.
Emphasis on Regional Cooperation in Culture and Tourism Policies
The meeting held in Muğla was organized with the aim of grounding culture and tourism policies on scientific foundations at the local government level, strengthening sustainable and inclusive approaches, and fostering multi-stakeholder cooperation across the MEWA region.
Within the scope of the meeting, culture policies, sustainable tourism, destination management, and the impact of cultural diplomacy on local development were discussed through academic presentations. In this context, presentations delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serhan Ada, Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair at Istanbul Bilgi University, provided a comprehensive evaluation of the relationship between cultural policies and local governance, the principles of sustainability in tourism, the creative city approach, and the contributions of cultural diplomacy to local development. The meeting also included a review of the activities carried out during the 2022–2025 term, while strategic priorities for the post-2026 period were identified, focusing on culture, sustainable development, digitalization, and the blue economy.
The meeting, chaired by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and UCLG-MEWA Committee on Culture and Tourism Chair Ahmet Aras, was regarded as a strong start to the Committee’s new term—grounded in academic insight and prioritizing regional cooperation.
UCLG-MEWA Secretary General Dr. Mehmet Duman: “Local Governments Play a Decisive Role in Culture and Tourism”
Emphasizing that the meeting represents a strong declaration of commitment, UCLG-MEWA Secretary General Dr. Mehmet Duman stated that the day-long sessions clearly demonstrated the decisive role of culture and tourism on the agenda of local governments.
Noting that all major issues related to culture and tourism at the global, local, and regional levels were addressed during the meeting, Dr. Duman added that the common denominator of these discussions was the leading role of local governments in the fields of culture and tourism.
Mayor Aras: “Culture and Tourism Are Not Merely Economic Activities but Values that Strengthen Social Bonds”
Speaking at the meeting, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union Ahmet Aras emphasized that Muğla is one of the leading tourism destinations distinguished by its rich cultural assets. He stated: “As local governments, we are working with great dedication to preserve this remarkable heritage and pass it on to future generations. The evaluations carried out, the views shared, and the approaches presented throughout the meeting have once again demonstrated that culture and tourism are not merely fields of economic activity, but shared values that strengthen social bonds, preserve the identity of cities, and must be transmitted to future generations. I believe that the discussions held within this framework have provided us with an important roadmap.”
“Our Committee Forms the Foundation of Cooperation and Co-Creation”
Emphasizing that experiences were also shared throughout the sessions, Mayor Aras stated: “As Chair of the Committee, I would particularly like to underline that our committee is a structure where ideas and experiences are exchanged, based on cooperation and co-creation. In the coming term, drawing strength from the cultural heritage of our cities, we aim to carry out joint initiatives that approach tourism through a sustainable, inclusive, and locally rooted perspective.”
“The success of this process will only be possible through the contributions of all of us. The approach presented during this meeting clearly demonstrates the working culture through which our committee will move forward. I believe that today’s meeting is only a beginning. I would especially like to share my conviction that the steps we will take and the partnerships we will build from now on will produce lasting and positive outcomes for our region and our cities. I sincerely believe that this shared commitment will generate enduring results that will strengthen our region’s vision for culture and tourism.”
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