
Speaking at the FIM World Snowmobile Championship (SNX) Introduction Meeting, President Büyükkılıç stated that Kayseri is not just a city, it is a city that cannot be contained within its own shell, it is described as the center of trade and industry, and it is a city that says 'I am here' in the middle of Anatolia.
Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç attended the introductory meeting in Istanbul for the World Snowmobile Championship, which will introduce Kayseri to the world and will be held for the second time in Erciyes.
The FIM World Snowmobile Championship (SNX), which will be held at Kayseri Erciyes Ski Resort on March 15-16, 2025, will be held in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Kayseri Governorship, Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, Kayseri Erciyes Inc., as well as the World Motorcycle Federation (FIM), Spor Toto and the Turkish Motorcycle Federation.
The FIM World Snowmobile Championship (SNX Snowcross World Championship) Introduction Meeting, one of the most important championships in the world for Turkey to stand out in promotion and sports tourism, was held at Vadi İstanbul Radisson Collection Hall. In addition to President Büyükkılıç, AK Party Kayseri Deputy Murat Cahid Cıngı, Turkish Motorcycle Federation President Mehmet Sadık Vefa, Turkish Motorcycle Federation Vice President Mahmut Nedim Akülke, Erciyes A.Ş. Board Chairman Hamdi Elcuman, Erciyes A.Ş. General Manager Zafer Akşehirlioğlu and members of the press attended the FIM World Snowmobile Championship Introduction Meeting.
After a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem, the promotional video of Erciyes, images from the races that were the scene of great excitement last year, and media coverage from around the world and Turkey were shown.
Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç, who was invited to the podium at the ceremony, stated in his speech that they came together in a meaningful and important organization and expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed.
President Büyükkılıç wished God's mercy upon the former President of the Turkish Motorcycle Federation, Bekir Yunus Uçar, who passed away due to a heart attack, and shared important information about Kayseri and Erciyes Ski Resort.
“Our Kayseri is Worth Telling and Living”
Expressing that Kayseri is not just a city, it is a city that cannot be contained within its own shell, it is described as the center of trade and industry, and it is a city that says 'I am here' in the middle of Anatolia, Mayor Büyükkılıç noted the following:
“Kayseri is a truly impressive city, in the Cappadocia region, Kayseri, which was a kingdom in the past, also has the king’s tomb. I was at the Erciyes Ski Resort two days ago. We started to enjoy the thousands of tourists from Indonesia, Korea and other countries coming to Kayseri after Cappadocia and getting to know skiing. We grow together, we should contribute to each other and carry our city to the future. Our Kayseri is a city worth telling, living and praising.”
Büyükkılıç emphasized that Kayseri, which is an open-air museum from religious tourism to cultural tourism, is legendary, and stated that the city has entered the national list of UNESCO in the field of gastronomy with the richness of different civilizations.
Stating that Kayseri is worth seeing and visiting and making statements as a physician, Mayor Büyükkılıç stated that they have established the High Altitude Camp Center at an altitude of 1850 meters in Erciyes, that the center includes 8 grass football fields, an Olympic swimming pool, a multi-purpose sports hall, a fitness center, and that an athletics track will also be built.
Büyükkılıç, who also reminded that the Airport New Terminal Building, which was a gift from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Kayseri, was in service, explained that it takes 1 hour to get from Istanbul to Kayseri and land at the airport, and it takes 20 minutes to reach Erciyes Ski Resort via a highway-like road.
Stating that Erciyes Ski Center has a safe ski center certificate, the title deed of 26 million square meters of Erciyes Mountain belongs to Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, and its inspection is carried out only with Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Erciyes Inc., Büyükkılıç also thanked Kayseri Governor Gökmen Çiçek for his harmonious work and contributions.
AK Party Kayseri Deputy Murat Cahid Cıngı expressed that they had a very valuable and meaningful day and emphasized that they always break new ground in Turkey as Erciyes. Cıngı said, “Erciyes has become a mountain visited by tens of thousands of people from all over the world, where people come to Erciyes with ski packages from some countries with direct charters, and where a crowd from Turkey has formed who say that skiing cannot be done anywhere else but Erciyes,” and added that the Metropolitan Municipality has never withheld its efforts from Erciyes.
Stating that Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality established Kayseri Erciyes Inc., a real destination company in Turkey, Cıngı shared that Erciyes Inc. fulfilled its duties with dedication in order to promote Erciyes and carry out tourism activities here. Cıngı thanked Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç and all those who contributed to these services.
MP Cıngı added that Erciyes created an economy of approximately 4 million dollars in the 200-month tourism season, and emphasized that Erciyes introduced Kayseri and Turkey, increased its brand value and reinforced Turkey's image.
President of the Turkish Motorcycle Federation Mehmet Sadık Vefa also explained their activities as a federation and expressed that they have achieved great work and success and thanked the administrators and citizens of Kayseri who supported the championship.
Kayseri Erciyes Inc. Board Chairman Hamdi Elcuman provided information about the establishment of Erciyes Ski Resort, the establishment of Erciyes Inc. and its ongoing activities, saying, “In 2011, skiing began for the first time in Erciyes in its current form. Erciyes Inc.'s sole duty is to manage the mountain. We are Turkey's first professional mountain management company. Our sole duty is to manage Erciyes and make it a world brand.”
“We Want to Make Erciyes a World Brand”
Elcuman, who noted that they also provide consultancy services to different ski resorts regarding management, said, “Erciyes Inc. manages the mountain, our tourism and hoteliers only do tourism. We want to make Erciyes a world brand and a well-known mountain in Turkey. I would like to thank our Metropolitan Municipality Mayor from here, he never withholds his support from us.”
Elcuman said that in addition to winter sports in Erciyes, they also host professional athletes in the High Altitude Camp Center during the summer months.
After the speeches, a souvenir photo was taken to commemorate the day.