Advertising and Digital Promotion Activities

Digital impressions in September totalled 666 million

The Turkaegean 2, Turkish Riviera, Cappadocia, and Black Sea commercials, along with İstanbul is the New Cool 3, were broadcast on TV in over 200 countries in September. In digital media, five spots were broadcast across more than 200 countries, collecting 666 million views.

Events and Organizations

TGA hosted 442 people in September

In 45 events organized across 31 cities in Türkiye, Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) hosted 442 people from 44 countries, of whom 89 were tour operators, and 353 were press members, influencers or opinion leaders. The highlights of hospitality events and other organizations in September are listed below.

TGA hosted journalists from leading Hungarian publications in Türkiye between 30 August and 4 September. Within a programme focusing on the historical and cultural heritage and touristic beauties of the Aegean region, the group visited İzmir and Aydın, including the Ancient City of Ephesus, Temple of Apollo, Şirince Village and Kuşadası. In addition, the Hungarian journalists enjoyed a selection of regional Aegean dishes.

TGA invited European journalists to the Turkish stage of the World Motocross Championship (MXGP), held in Afyonkarahisar on 2-3 September 2023. Through a special programme integrated into the championship, journalists from Poland, the Netherlands, Greece and Romania viewed the speed-filled performances of the athletes in the races and also visited many of the natural, historical and cultural sites of Afyonkarahisar and Ankara. Within the scope of the programme, journalists also participated in activities where local experiences were prioritised.

European journalists followed the TransAnatolia Rally Raid Races, which were held between 2-9 September this year featuring a special route for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye. At the invitation of TGA, motorsports journalists from Romania, Greece and Portugal were hosted in Samsun, Tokat, Amasya and Sivas between 1-5 September in a dedicated programme. The group closely followed the exciting stages of TransAnatolia, one of the most challenging rallies in the world, and toured historical and cultural sites in the cities where they were hosted.

Fashion and lifestyle magazine Schön!, which has a significant readership in Germany, shot its new issue in Türkiye between 6-7 September. The crew of the German magazine documented the region’s gorgeous landscapes for its fashion pages with beautiful shots at various points, especially the fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, Nevşehir.

The TGA hosted Europe’s social media influencers in Türkiye at the Troy Culture Trail Festival, organised within the scope of Türkiye Culture Route Festivals. The group of 13 influencers, from Spain, Poland, Serbia, Bulgaria, France, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, visited many historical and touristic sites in and around Çanakkale and participated in various events held within the scope of the festival. The guest influencers shared their local experiences in Çanakkale, one of Türkiye’s most important touristic regions, on their social media accounts.

French Arte TV, which broadcasts a rich selection of content including documentaries, films, series, concerts, and shows, came to Türkiye to shoot a documentary. The film crew, in Çanakkale between 9- 14 September for the Troy Documentary, took detailed shots at the excavation sites. In addition, the team conducted extensive interviews with officials conducting the excavation works and received information on the history of the region and developments in the excavations.

As part of a gastronomy-focused hospitality programme, TGA invited Northern Europe’s leading social media figures to Türkiye. Coming from Sweden, Norway and Denmark, the guests were hosted in İzmir, the pearl of the Aegean region, between 12-16 September. Within the scope of a programme highlighting regional Aegean recipes, the group sampled delicious Turkish cuisine. The influencers also visited historical and touristic sites in İzmir. While in Türkiye, the group shared their local dining and touring experiences via their social media accounts.

TGA invited Dutch and Finnish press members to a specially conceptualised programme to promote the golf opportunities offered by Türkiye. During the event, which took place in Antalya between 12-16 September, the guest journalists visited golf courses to experience Türkiye’s golfing facilities. The group was provided with detailed information regarding golf tourism in Türkiye and the facilities they visited. In addition, the journalists played golf on the courses in Antalya and visited the area’s historical and touristic sites.

Foreign journalists were invited to the GastroANTEP Culture Route Festival, which took place between 16-24 September within the scope of the Türkiye Culture Route Festivals. Between 18-21 September, journalists from Tunisia and Egypt participated in the culture and art activities in the Festival programme, and visited many of Gaziantep’s important historical and touristic sites, including museums and exhibition areas. The group also had the opportunity to experience many famous dishes from the renowned Antep cuisine.

By invitation of TGA, press members from Spain, Romania and the UK were hosted in Ankara as part of the Başkent Culture Route Festival. Hosted between 21-25 September, the group enjoyed a prepared programme that included visits to historical, cultural and touristic sites such as Ankara’s notable historical buildings and museums. The journalists also attended various events of the Başkent Culture Route Festival, along with selected concerts at CSO Ada.

Route Hospitality

TGA invited foreign journalists to experience the historical richness of the North Aegean on a special route. A group of 10 journalists from Italy, Spain, Poland, France and Tunisia participated in the Aeneas Route, which begins in Çanakkale and ends in Balıkesir. During the event, which took place between 12- 16 September, the group visited the Ancient City of Troy and Museum, Dardanos, Alexandreia Troas, Apollon Smintheion, and Assos Ancient City and Antandros excavation sites. During the event, the authorities provided detailed information to the press members.

Campaign Hospitality

TGA invited media members from Europe to a special event in support of the Turkish Black Sea campaign. Journalists from Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria and Poland participated in the event, which was organised with the concept of the tea harvest in the Black Sea region and held between 5-9 September. Hosted in both Trabzon and Rize, the group visited numerous places in the lush nature of the Black Sea region and experienced the tea harvest.

International Fairs and Events

Turkish Airlines and nine sector representatives took part in the MATTA Fair, held in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, between 1-3 September. At the Türkiye stand, organised in coordination with the TGA and the Turkish Cultural and Promotion Counsellor’s Office in Kuala Lumpur, the Turkish representatives hosted visitors from Malaysia and other countries in the region. Turkish Cuisine with Timeless Recipes was also promoted with a special corner.

The ITB China Fair, which focuses on the Chinese travel market and is also one of the most influential fairs in the Far East region, was held in Shanghai, China between 12-14 September. Turkish Airlines and nine industry representatives participated in Türkiye’s stand, which was organised under the coordination of TGA and the Turkish Cultural and Promotion Counsellor’s Office in Beijing. During the fair, which brought together industry professionals from around the world and distinguished representatives from China and the region, many one-to-one meetings were held. Detailed information on Türkiye was provided to visitors in the promotion area.

İngiltere’nin önde gelen yayın grubu News UK’in seyahat sektöründe yılın en iyilerini, Determining the best of the year in the travel sector by readers’ votes, the News UK Travel Awards, sponsored by News UK, the leading publication group of the UK, were held in Türkiye on 14 September. The award ceremony and related events are held in a different country each year. From 13-15 September, the one hundred British travel industry representatives visiting İstanbul for the ceremony enjoyed a dedicated programme focused on iconic sites such as the Historical Peninsula, Grand Bazaar and Galata Tower, as well as a boat trip on the Bosphorus. A Turkish food workshop and a sailing activity on the Golden Horn were also organised to provide guests with different local experiences specific to Türkiye.

Following the ITB China Fair in Shanghai, TGA organised the GoTürkiye International Destination Promotion Event, also in Shanghai. On 15 September, tour operators, airline representatives and members of the press were invited to the event. In addition to acquiring information on Türkiye’s tourism destinations and products during the event’s meetings and presentations, guests sampled Turkish dishes from a specially prepared menu highlighting the country’s delicacies.

The annual Bosphorus Cup, a thrilling competition on the Bosphorus Strait featuring sailors from different countries, was held for the 22 nd time this year between 21-24 September. Described as one of the most prestigious sailing races in the world, the event was attended by approximately 200 sailors from the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Balkan countries. During the organisation, special activities were carried out with the international sailors, most of whom have large followings on social media, to promote Turkish cuisine and values. İstanbul’s blue voyage and sailing destinations were highlighted in the promotional activities, while Türkiye’s sea tourism attraction was further emphasised in the international arena. Influential social media figures from France, the USA and the UK were also invited to the event. Closely following the races, the guest influencers conveyed the excitement of the competition via their social media accounts. Guests also visited iconic sites in İstanbul through the hospitality programme, including the Hagia Sophia Mosque and Blue Mosque in the Historical Peninsula, along with the Galata Tower, Galataport and Saint Antoine Church. Influencers’ social media stories and posts about their time in İstanbul gained considerable engagement among their followers.

The 12 th Annual Consultative Forum of the Council of Europe on Cultural Roads took place this year in Lodz, Poland, between 20-22 September. Organised by the 2023 Consultative Forum, the Council of Europe Extended Partial Agreement on Cultural Roads, and the European Cultural Roads Institute, the main theme of the forum was “Cultural Roads: The social and creative dimension of cultural heritage in a post-industrial context”. At this year’s forum, which aims to shed light on the lasting social and creative dimensions of shared cultural heritage in a post-industrial world, officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Promotion and the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency participated on behalf of Türkiye and carried out presentations.

The PCMA Convening EMEA, which brings together the MICE industry in a comprehensive three-day programme held in Europe, was held in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, between 20-22 September this year. This important event, which brings together more than 450 industry leaders from over 40 countries every year, was also attended by Türkiye. During the programme, developments and innovations in the field of MICE were shared. As well, one-to-one meetings and networking events were held during which Türkiye’s expertise and opportunities in this field were explained in detail.

Provinces and Destination Promotion Activities

Within the scope of the Provincial Promotion and Development Program, which aims to promote the provinces and sub-destinations more effectively in the national and international arena, Kırıkkale, Şırnak and Yalova held their fourth board meetings, while Karabük, Artvin and Elazığ held their fifth; Van its sixth; and Burdur, Sivas and Muğla their seventh. Isparta and Mardin held their eighth board meetings; Sakarya held its eleventh, and Nevşehir held its twelfth board meeting. Within the scope of the Provincial Promotion and Development Program, with 14 meetings held in September, a total of 459 meetings have been held this year to date.

Production activities carried out within the scope of destination promotions continued in September. In this context, the different historical, cultural, natural and touristic beauties across every province of Türkiye, from east to west and from north to south, are brought to the screens. Shooting for promotional films in 12 provinces, including Aydın, Batman, Edirne, Edirne, Giresun, Isparta, Kırklareli, Konya, Samsun, Sinop, Tekirdağ, Trabzon and Yozgat, was completed in September.