Number of business congresses rises 280 pct in Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

HÜRRİYET photo

The number of business congresses held in Istanbul increased 280 in the past decade, creating around $190 million income, according to the head of the Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB). 

Istanbul hosted a total of 130 international congresses last year and 97 events are planned for this year, said ICVB’s Özgül Özkan Yavuz. 

Istanbul earns almost 70 percent of the total convention tourism revenue, added Yavuz. 

“Istanbul ranked ninth in the world last year by hosting 130 conventions … The city has been in the top 10 for the last four years … Istanbul is followed by the Mediterranean resort of Antalya with 30 business congresses, the Aegean city of İzmir with 12 and the capital city of Ankara with 10,” he said. 

Yavuz noted that the purchasing power of the congress attenders is around five times higher than ordinary tourists. 

Business tourists stay an average of 3.5 days in a country and spend around $2,500 in total. 

“Some 75,864 delegates attended numerous international congresses in Istanbul last year. This figure is around 57,000 for the scheduled events for now, but it will rise in the following weeks,” he said. 

Turkey has been ranked 19th in the world with 190 congresses a year, said Yavuz.