Turkey Sets Ambitious Goals for Sports Tourism: Major Fair and Diversification in Antalya

A New Era in Sports Tourism: Major Gathering in Antalya Nida Kiraz, President of the Sports Tourism Association, announced that a comprehensive fair will be held in Antalya from May 31 to June 3 to promote Turkey's sports tourism potential on a global scale.
The organization will not be limited to football but will cover 12 different alternative sports branches.
Emphasizing that Turkey possesses modern facilities through public and private sector investments, Kiraz stated that the goal is to turn winter sports centers in Erzurum, the velodrome in Konya, Olympic facilities in Samsun, and ski resorts in Erciyes and Uludağ into attraction centers for international athletes.
Economic Contribution and Employment Continuity Highlighting the economic dimension of sports tourism, Kiraz noted that this sector allows tourism activities to continue particularly during the winter months.
It was emphasized that athlete mobility during the winter, often referred to as the "off-season," contributes to the year-round employment of tourism staff.
Recalling that the share of sports tourism in total tourism revenues worldwide is around 10 percent, Kiraz mentioned that this rate is currently at 1.5 percent in Turkey.
She expressed that cooperation between the state and the private sector is critical to increasing this share.
The Rise of Cycling and Golf Tourism In parallel with the global growth of cycling, it was stated that Antalya holds significant potential in this field.
Kiraz shared that three major organizations—Tour of Antalya, Gran Fondo, and Padelia—will be held in Antalya in 2026, noting plans to increase market share in sports tourism through diversified branches.