Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay attended the Konya-Iran Tourism Cooperation B2B Meeting program organized in cooperation with Turkish Airlines (THY) to increase Konya's tourism potential and made important statements.
President Altay, who attended the program held at a hotel, expressed his pleasure in hosting tourism agency representatives from Iran in Konya thanks to this meaningful partnership established with THY.
“Konya Has Been a Meeting Point for Centuries”
Drawing attention to Konya’s thousands of years of rich history, Mayor Altay emphasized its deep-rooted past, starting from Çatalhöyük and extending to its status as the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk State. “Our city, located on the historical Silk Road, has been the meeting point of the east and the west, the north and the south for centuries, and has become an important center where trade and cultures intersect,” he said.
Stating that one of the first names that comes to mind when Konya is mentioned is Hz. Mevlana, President Altay said that millions of guests who visit Hz. Pir's eternal resting place deeply feel the spiritual atmosphere of the city. In addition, he stated that unique historical heritages such as the Alaaddin Mosque from the Seljuk period, İnce Minareli Madrasah, Karatay Madrasah and Historical Bedesten, Ottoman period works, modern structures such as the Science Center, Konya Panorama Museum and Tropical Butterfly Garden offer a unique atmosphere for the guests. President Altay also reminded that Çatalhöyük, one of the first settlements in the world with its 9-year history, and Eşrefoğlu Mosque in Beyşehir attract attention as unique pieces of human history by being included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
“The Doors of Our City Are Always Open to You”
Mayor Altay emphasized that as Konya Metropolitan Municipality, they continue to work with determination to increase the city's tourism potential and make Konya a world-renowned tourism destination, and continued his speech with the following words:
“The steps we have taken here will add a new one to the breakthroughs we have made in tourism. The collaborations that will be made with you, the valuable sector representatives here, will not only increase the tourism mobility between the two countries, but will also further strengthen our cultural and economic ties. The doors of our city are always open to you. I believe that thanks to these strong collaborations, great opportunities will arise for both Konya and our stakeholders in Iran.”
Representatives of the Provincial Directorate of Culture, tourism associations operating in Konya and hotel managers, as well as representatives of tourism agencies from Iran, attended the program. Detailed presentations were made to introduce the riches of Konya to Iranian guests.
Iranian Tourists Praise Konya
Within the scope of the Konya program, Iranian tourism agencies had the opportunity to closely visit important historical and touristic places of Konya such as Çatalhöyük, Türbeönü Bazaars, Historical Bedesten, Panorama Konya Museum, Mevlana Museum, Sille, Tropical Butterfly Garden, Darülmülk Exhibition Center and Alaaddin Mosque.
Following their visit, Iranian tourism professionals expressed their admiration for Konya's deep history and rich cultural potential. This meeting is expected to make significant contributions to the development of tourism cooperation between the two countries.
