Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay attended the Konya-Iran Tourism Cooperation B2B Meeting organized by Konya Metropolitan Municipality in partnership with Turkish Airlines.

Speaking at the event held at a hotel, Mayor Altay expressed his great pleasure in hosting tourism agency representatives from Iran in Konya, thanks to the meaningful collaboration they established with Turkish Airlines.

Mayor Altay said, “Located on the historic Silk Road, our city has for centuries served as a meeting point between East and West, North and South, becoming a major center where trade and cultures intersect. One of the first names that comes to mind when Konya is mentioned is undoubtedly Rumi. Millions of visitors who come to visit the eternal resting place of the great Sufi master deeply experience the city’s spiritual atmosphere. In addition, our unique heritage sites such as the Alaaddin Mosque, the İnce Minareli Medrese, the Karatay Medrese, and the Historical Bazaar, which bear traces of the Seljuk era, as well as Ottoman-era works and modern attractions like the Science Center, the Konya Panorama Museum, and the Tropical Butterfly Garden, offer a truly distinctive experience for our guests. With a history of 9,500 years, Çatalhöyük—one of the world’s earliest settlements—and the Eşrefoğlu Mosque in Beyşehir, both listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, stand out as remarkable parts of human history.”

Emphasizing that the Konya Metropolitan Municipality remains committed to enhancing the city’s tourism potential and transforming it into a world-class destination, Mayor Altay continued his speech with the following remarks:

“The steps we are taking here will add a new dimension to the progress we’ve made in tourism. The collaborations that will emerge with you, esteemed representatives of the sector, will not only boost tourism activity between our two countries but also strengthen our cultural and economic ties. The doors of our city are always open to you. I firmly believe that these strong partnerships will create significant opportunities both for Konya and for our stakeholders in Iran.”

At the event, which was attended by representatives from the Provincial Directorate of Culture, tourism associations and hotel managers operating in Konya, as well as tourism agency representatives from Iran, presentations were made to introduce Konya to the Iranian guests.

IRANIAN TOURISM PROFESSIONALS IMPRESSED BY KONYA

As part of their Konya program, Iranian travel agencies visited many of the city's historical and touristic landmarks, including Çatalhöyük, Türbeönü Bazaars, the Historical Bedesten, Panorama Konya Museum, Mevlana Museum, Sille, the Tropical Butterfly Garden, Darülmülk Exhibition Palace, and Alaaddin Mosque, gaining a closer insight into the city.

The Iranian tourism professionals expressed their admiration for Konya, stating they were deeply impressed by its historical and cultural richness.