The EMITT – East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition, organized in partnership by the Turkish Hoteliers Federation (TÜROFED) and the Association of Turkish Tourism Investors (TTYD), and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, the Ministry of Trade of Turkey, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and Turkish Airlines, serves as a global meeting point for the international tourism world. Annually, it hosts nearly 30,000 industry professionals and thousands of holiday consumers eager to explore new and exciting travel opportunities from around the world.
This year, the fair is set to host approximately 400 tourism purchase professionals and will feature participants from Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and America. The participants include tour operators and professional tourism companies, as well as firms specializing in destination management, destination weddings, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) tourism.
Concurrent with the fair, the EMITT Event Program will inspire and enhance the fair experience with a multitude of events under the theme “Redefining,” aimed at creating action plans to address challenges negatively impacting the tourism sector in 2025.
Redefining Tourism: Bold Steps for a Sustainable Future
In its 28th year, EMITT will address the Positive Tourism vision within its event program. The approach not only focuses on eliminating waste but also on adding value to nature and society, strengthening tourism, and generating innovative solutions, while exploring new market opportunities through creative tourism products.
EMITT Fuar Director Hacer Aydın emphasized the significant contribution of the EMITT Fair to Turkey’s economy, tourism, and national brand, stating, “Amid global crises and environmental challenges, shaping the future of the tourism sector has become a necessity. Redefining tourism involves not only responding to today’s crises but also taking a more daring and innovative vision to create a sustainable future. As we face the impacts of climate crises, wars, and the destructive effects of overtourism, it’s crucial for industry players to strengthen collaborations and focus on building a more resilient and positive tourism model. In this context, EMITT stands out as a pivotal meeting point for the global tourism sector. This year, we are expanding our goals by offering new opportunities and programs to encourage more collaboration among participants.”
For 27 years, EMITT has facilitated the emergence of many new holiday and tourism destinations in Turkey, branding cities and even villages and connecting them with domestic and international tourists. The fair will host thousands of participants over three days. Countries such as Bulgaria, Japan, Northern Cyprus, Venezuela, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Malta, the Seychelles, Cuba, Italy, and Egypt will be prominently featured, with individual participants from Greece and China also present.
The fair, starting on February 5, 2025, will kick off with an official opening ceremony followed by a stage conference to review the industry’s performance in 2024 and discuss forecasts for 2025. The challenges faced in the tourism sector and the bold steps needed to overcome them will also be addressed. Additionally, global trend reports will be shared during the traditional Presidents’ Session to project future trends.
On the second day of the fair, thematic panels will discuss how industry players can collaborate to create a more resilient tourism model. Influential figures, influencers, and significant hotel chains, service providers, and domestic and foreign destinations will take the stage.
The final day of the program will focus on how technology, sustainability, alternative tourism, and artificial intelligence can be applied effectively, sharing best practices and strategies. Interactive discussions will be staged to help attendees develop new ideas and find creative solutions.
