The Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency hosted the world’s leading wedding organizers in İstanbul and Bodrum. Within the scope of the special program, guests visited extraordinary wedding and event venues in İstanbul and Bodrum, experiencing Türkiye’s wedding and event potential first hand.

The group also toured İstanbul and Bodrum’s historical and cultural beauties, and these two destinations have been included in programs for clients’ weddings and event organizations.

The Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) hosted the world’s leading wedding organizers in İstanbul and Bodrum last month. The ten-person group included wedding organizers and media representatives from the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, China, Ghana and Kazakhstan.

The group visited the top wedding and event venues in İstanbul and Bodrum, observing first-hand the extraordinary potential of these destinations for the sector. They also toured İstanbul and Bodrum’s historical and cultural beauties, sharing their experiences in Türkiye via more than a thousand posts from their social media accounts.

Türkiye is expected to consolidate its leading position in the sector with an excursion program designed to promote the destination wedding potential of İstanbul and Bodrum on an international scale. In addition, these two destinations are now showcased in programs for clients’ weddings and event organizations.

Foreign organizers include İstanbul and Bodrum in their programs

Within the scope of the organization, the group of wedding organizers and media members experienced the city’s leading luxury wedding and event venues, including the Çırağan Palace Kempinski, the Four Seasons Hotel Bosphorus and the Mandarin Hotel Bosphorus. In addition, guests explored the historical and cultural heritage of İstanbul with visits to the Historical Peninsula, the Hagia Sophia, the Binbir Direk Cistern, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, the Galata Tower and İstiklal Street. Enjoying magnificent views of the Bosphorus during a private boat tour, the group also discovered the city’s many fine-dining options – İstanbul’s exclusive restaurants, renowned for their scenery and atmosphere as well as their menus, were visited within the scope of the hospitality program.

The group was hosted in Bodrum for the second leg of the program, which presented the region’s most luxurious wedding venues, including the Maça Kızı, the Six Senses Kaplankaya, the Edition Hotel, the Mett Hotel, the Caresse Resort & Spa and the Mandarin Oriental Bodrum Hotel. The program also featured opportunities to experience the historical and social life of Bodrum, along with tours of Bodrum Castle, the Bodrum city centre and the Bodrum bazaar.

Türkiye leads the way in MICE and Destination Weddings

Türkiye is one of the world’s leading countries in the sector of MICE and destination weddings. According to the statistics of the International Congress and Convention Association, İstanbul is among the top 10 most preferred destinations in the world for international congresses, meetings and events. Türkiye hosts more than five hundred destination weddings annually, with couples from all over the world taking their vows in İstanbul, Antalya, Cappadocia, Bodrum and İzmir. The country is especially popular as a destination for Indian couples; 25 Indian weddings take place every year in Türkiye, with each celebration lasting between three and four days and generating substantial revenue.Since 2019, TGA’s operations have been directed towards placing Türkiye as a valued brand and attraction centre in domestic and foreign tourism markets, and discovering, developing and promoting the country’s tangible and intangible natural heritage. TGA has a dedicated department operating in the field of destination weddings.

This team, consisting of professional names in the field, keeps the pulse of the sector by attending wedding conferences and forums each year. Hosting leading wedding planners from all over the world on promotional trips, TGA introduces various locations in Türkiye and offers information and experiences regarding its event areas.