/bw-travel/media/media_files/2025/10/06/hyderabad-event-picture-3-2025-10-06-15-14-47.jpeg)
Orhan Yalman Okan, Consul-General of the Republic of Türkiye in Hyderabad, held productive talks on September 24–25, 2025, with the presidents and representatives of India’s premier travel trade organisations — the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), and the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) — to bolster Türkiye–India tourism cooperation.
Attendees included K Ranga Reddy, Chairman, IATO – Andhra Pradesh & Telangana; Nagesh Pampati, Chairman, TAAI – Andhra Pradesh & Telangana; Nayar Mohammed and Mohammed Irfan Ali, TAFI. Each delegation was accompanied by 4–5 prominent agency owners, reflecting strong participation from the Indian travel trade. Başak Önsal Demir, Cultural and Tourism Counsellor at the Turkish Embassy in New Delhi, also joined the discussions.
The Türkiye delegation underlined the importance of advancing tourism cooperation between Türkiye and India. The success of the GoTürkiye Hyderabad Meeting 2025 was highlighted, and the 2026 edition was formally introduced. Key forthcoming activities announced included “Turkish Film Days” in November 2025 and the “Türkiye Education Fair”, alongside new opportunities in film production, MICE tourism, and wedding tourism.
Counsellor Başak Önsal Demir emphasised Türkiye’s particular focus on Hyderabad and South India, recalling the success of the earlier GoTürkiye Promotion Roadshow. She confirmed a new edition will take place in February 2026 and invited robust industry participation. She also introduced Türkiye’s latest tourism offerings, including night museums, Michelin Guide listings, culture-route festivals, sustainability programmes, Taştepeler and Göbekli Tepe archaeology projects, and enhanced MICE and corporate meeting service standards in Türkiye.
The Indian delegations welcomed the announcement that the Indian Embassy in Ankara will organise a major B2B event with Turkish stakeholders in Istanbul on October 17 to facilitate travel between the two countries and strengthen business ties. They expressed keen interest in participating and contributing to its success. The delegations reaffirmed their commitment to restoring and expanding tourism links, extended support for Türkiye’s annual roadshow in February, and urged the early resumption of Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul–Hyderabad flights. They also emphasised the importance of engaging regional social media influencers and confirmed their readiness to work closely with Turkish partners to deepen bilateral tourism relations.
The Hyderabad meetings marked a significant step in fostering closer collaboration between Türkiye and South India, ensuring tourism continues to serve as a bridge between the two nations.
