A New Vision for Muğla Tourism from Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras

31 Oct A New Vision for Muğla Tourism from Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras

Muğla Metropolitan Municipality held the introduction meeting for the Muğla Tourism Research and Strategy Development Platform it has launched.

The introduction meeting for the Muğla Tourism Research and Strategy Development Platform, which aims to confidently carry Muğla, the tourism capital, into the future, was held at the Türkan Saylan Contemporary Life Center of the Metropolitan Municipality. Hosted by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, the meeting aimed to holistically plan the future of Muğla tourism and brought together Menteşe Mayor Gonca Köksal, Platform Coordinator Cumhur Güven Taşbaşı, Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry Council Chair Hüseyin Özcan Koray, TUREB Chairman Abdülkadir Hakan Eğinlioğlu, TÜRSAB Vice President Hasan Eker, TÜROFED Vice President Bülent Uysal, TURYİD President Kaya Demirer, tourism professional Yücel Okutur, former Tourism Minister Mehmet Bahattin Yücel, and numerous citizens.

The introduction meeting of the Muğla Tourism Research and Strategy Development Platform began with a tourism presentation by Coordinator Cumhur Güven Taşbaşı. The presentation outlined the platform’s plans and projects.  The platform aims to establish Muğla as a strong tourism brand, covering every corner from Bodrum to Fethiye, and from Marmaris to Datça. It also seeks to showcase Muğla’s thousands of years of cultural heritage to visitors through tourism.  Another key objective of the platform is to ensure that tourism’s economic contributions extend beyond businesses to include artisans, producers, and the local community, providing a source of livelihood for them. Therefore, the platform aims to integrate alternative tourism models, such as agricultural tourism and gastronomy tourism, to incorporate Muğla’s local values into tourism experiences.

Taşbaşı: “With this project, we will move forward on the path to becoming a global brand.”

Cumhur Güven Taşbaşı stated, “Our shared responsibility is our future, and sustainability for our future is not a necessity but our norm. Muğla is advancing rapidly toward becoming a global brand, not only with its natural beauty but also with its social solidarity, local values, and hospitality. Today, with the vision of Muğla as a Global City, established by our Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, this platform will become a center where steps will be taken to turn this vision into reality.”

Gonca Köksal: “Muğla will find its well-deserved place in the tourism sector.”

Menteşe Mayor Gonca Köksal stated, “We have unwavering faith that the tourism sector will get its rightful share in Muğla. With your presence and support, I believe we can achieve this through collective wisdom. Having Mr. Cumhur Güven Taşbaşı, who possesses extensive expertise in finding solutions for both our province and our country, at the forefront of these efforts is a great opportunity for us. I extend my gratitude to him and his team and wish them success in their work.”

Köksal: “Muğla’s brand value will emerge.”

She also noted that, “Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, coming from the tourism sector, has the capacity to address issues and propose solutions together with you. I believe that this platform, by bringing together all representatives, stakeholders, and partners of the tourism sector, will evaluate all sector-related challenges along with proposed solutions. Steps will be taken to enhance Muğla’s brand value and bring tourism to the position it truly deserves.  I am confident that this platform will contribute significantly to our province, especially to our 13 valuable districts, each with its unique characteristics and qualities. I believe that every district will shine even brighter. My belief in advancing the sector while maintaining a balance between preservation and usage is unwavering.”

Mayor Aras: “Muğla is rapidly advancing toward becoming a global brand, not only with its natural beauty but also with its social solidarity, local values, and hospitality.”

Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras emphasized that all components of tourism should come together to address Muğla as a whole. He also stated that tourism should not only focus on the present but also plan for the future.

Mayor Aras stated:  “The Tourism Research and Strategy Development Platform is an important step in positioning Muğla not only as the heart of tourism but also as a pioneer city in environmental awareness and cultural preservation. Developing tourism by preserving Muğla’s historical, cultural, natural, and human values is undoubtedly a shared goal for all of us.  In this context, with all its components, this platform will operate with a vision that sees tourism as an inseparable part of our city while prioritizing sustainability. We believe that tourism should not be viewed merely as an economic force, but as a development model that encompasses society as a whole.  While aiming to make Muğla a strong tourism brand covering every corner—from Bodrum to Fethiye, and from Marmaris to Datça—it is also our responsibility to pass on the cultural heritage of these lands, which span thousands of years, to future generations. This is not just about tourism as a source of income; it is also about preserving our collective memory and natural heritage.  Muğla is rapidly advancing toward becoming a global brand, not only with its natural beauty but also with social solidarity, local values, and hospitality. The platform we established today will be a center where the steps to turn this vision into reality will be taken.”