The Istanbul Tourism Fair (ITF), which was held for the first time last year, has successfully established itself as one of the most important fairs in the industry. With the motto “Bringing all the colors of the tourism industry together”, ITF has become the strongest meeting point for industry players. Following the strong collaborations formed last year and shaping the roadmap for 2024 tourism, preparations for the second edition of the Istanbul Tourism Fair have begun. The fair, which will take place on October 9-10, 2024, has moved to a new location due to high demand. With the increased demand, the fair will be held at the Yenikapı-Eurasia Show and Art Center, which spans 10,000 square meters, and will bring together all players in the industry. The Tourism Summit, held alongside the fair, will discuss industry evaluations and the vision for the new era. On the evening of October 9, the ITF Gala Party at Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul will allow industry stakeholders to unwind and expand their networks.
THE INDUSTRY’S ROADMAP WILL BE SHAPED
Explaining that the Istanbul Tourism Fair (ITF) was first organized last year to find new business partners and strengthen collaborations with existing partners, Volkan Ataman, Member of the Board and CEO of Dream Project, said, “In the fair where we hosted only industry professionals, strong collaborations were made. With the motto ‘Bringing all the colors of the tourism industry together,’ ITF made a big impact in its first year. Therefore, there has been strong demand for the second edition. This year’s fair will pave the way for even more wonderful collaborations. The industry’s roadmap will be shaped at this fair.”
Ataman also mentioned that more than 15,000 professional visitors would attend the two-day event, stating, “Through our international hosted buyer program, we will host potential agencies and operators in Istanbul for three days at the highest level, introducing them to our destinations and connecting them with our participants. Our participants will have B2B meetings with both hosted buyers and professional visitors, making a significant contribution to their commercial volume and promotions.
DEMAND EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 1.5 TIMES
Although the Istanbul Tourism Fair (ITF) was held for the first time last year at the Istanbul Expo Center, with 3,712 square meters of exhibition space, it attracted 13,500 tourism professionals and 250 hosted buyers from 50 countries. As a result of the online appointment system, 6,500 B2B meetings were held between visitors, exhibitors, and hosted buyers. This year, demand is expected to increase by 1.5 times compared to last year, with new companies joining the event, while returning participants will occupy larger exhibition spaces. Over 15,000 tourism professionals are expected to visit the fair, where hotel and agency contracts will be signed, early booking campaigns will be launched, and the first agreements for the new season will be made.
TURNKEY EXHIBITION STANDS
The ITF introduces innovation by providing exhibitors with standardized booth concepts. These booths will be equipped with all necessary décor, technical setups, meeting rooms, printing, and carpeting, all provided on a turnkey basis. This approach will allow participants to join the fair with more economical and elegant booths. The system eliminates competition among exhibitors regarding booth design, while also offering time and cost benefits for booth preparations. Booth sizes will range from 9 square meters to 400 square meters to accommodate various needs.
INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS AT THE SUMMIT
The Tourism Summit, held concurrently with the fair, will feature several prominent national and international speakers across 7 different topics this year. Issues in the sector, new trends in tourism, and the global tourism agenda will be discussed on the summit stage, sparking much conversation. On the evening of October 9, the ITF Gala Party at Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul will offer participants and hosted buyers a chance to enjoy themselves while continuing to expand their networks.
