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The plan is to extend tourism to 12 months by focusing on sports organizations during the winter months when tourism activity decreases. Tourism professionals are turning to sports tourism in Türkiye, where investments in sports infrastructure are increasing, combining the climate advantage with organizational experience.
The development of facilities and successful organizations in football, golf, athletics, and winter sports are increasing Türkiye's global share in sports tourism. Increased investments in sports facilities will also benefit tourism.
Nida Kiraz, President of the Turkish Sports Tourism Association, told an AA reporter that they aim to increase the awareness of the private sector regarding sports tourism and to concentrate investments in this area.
Kiraz stated that they are working intensively to promote Türkiye's sports tourism potential to the world through international sports fair organizations, saying, "While the share of sports tourism in total tourism activity worldwide is approximately 10 percent, this rate is around 0.9 per thousand in our country. In recent years, our government and public institutions have made very significant investments in sports infrastructure. Our mission is to ensure that these facilities become effective and sustainable in a way that serves sports tourism."
Stating that they are working in coordination with both the public and private sectors in this regard, Kiraz emphasized that sports facilities should be evaluated not only for competitions but also as a tool for tourism and promotion.
Highlighting that Antalya has a unique advantage for sports tourism with its climate, facility capacity, and international recognition, Kiraz noted that they aim to spread this advantage throughout the country.
Nida Kiraz stated, "We are talking about a region in Antalya that receives nearly 300 days of sunshine. We want to show that all kinds of sports, camps, and training organizations can be held here. However, our goal is not only Antalya, but we must showcase the entire potential to the world, from the high-altitude ski resorts in Erzurum to the Olympic facilities in Samsun, from the velodrome in Konya to the sports infrastructure all over Türkiye."
Organizations Increase Promotional Power
Kiraz pointed out that with an international sports and tourism organization planned to be brought to Antalya, leading sports organization companies from around the world will also have the opportunity to get to know Türkiye firsthand, and this will highlight Türkiye as a global showcase in sports tourism.
Kiraz noted that sports tourism attracts a different audience to Türkiye than classic holiday tourism, and that this creates a multiplier effect in terms of promotion.
Nida Kiraz continued:
"We are bringing a group of people to Türkiye through sporting events who might never come for vacation. Years ago, during the World Archery Championships held in Belek, athletes from approximately 150 countries came to Antalya. Athletes from South America and the furthest reaches of Africa experienced Türkiye and Antalya. They returned to their countries with a very strong and positive perception. The social media posts of famous athletes also create a promotional impact worth millions of euros. We see these athletes as 'volunteer ambassadors'."
Antalya Becomes a Major Center for Sports Tourism
Nida Kiraz stated that Antalya has become a significant center for golf, football, and cycling tourism, saying, "The Antalya region has become a very serious golf destination with 16 golf courses. We have reached an average of 1300 football camps annually. We anticipate this number reaching 1450-1500 this year. Cycling tourism is also growing rapidly. With Granfondo and international events, Turkey is now an important stop in this field as well."
Kiraz also noted that events like "Runtalya" have become international brands, emphasizing the importance of making such events permanent.
