Tourexpi
This
marks the first time since 2015 that Türkiye’s largest metropolis has ranked
among the world’s top 20 congress cities.
In
2024, Istanbul hosted 86 international congresses with attendance figures
ranging from 50 to 7,300 delegates, reflecting an increase of 14 events
compared to the previous year. The data was announced by the Istanbul Chamber
of Commerce (ICOC), which credited the city’s progress to its strategic
advantages in infrastructure and accessibility.
ICOC
President Sekib Avdagic highlighted Istanbul’s goal of returning to the global
top 10—a position it previously held in 2015 when the city ranked 8th. “Our aim
is to establish Istanbul as a permanent fixture among the top 10 congress
cities worldwide, enhancing both our visibility and economic value,” Avdagic
said.
According
to ICCA’s 2024 rankings, Vienna led the global list with 154 congresses,
followed closely by Lisbon (153) and Singapore (144). Istanbul also made a
strong impression in specialized sectors, ranking 8th globally in the newly
published “Top Eight Cities for Medical Sciences Meetings in 2024.”
Avdagic
also emphasized Istanbul’s broader performance in tourism and hospitality,
noting that the city ranked second after London in CityDNA’s “Best Performing
Destinations in European Accommodation Statistics for 2024.” Furthermore, both
Istanbul and Antalya were among the top four European cities in terms of growth
in international travel, according to the same source.
“These
rankings reaffirm Istanbul’s status as a key hub for global events and
international tourism,” Avdagic concluded.
Image
Credit: © AA
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