The travel and tourism sector in Türkiye and the public private partnership efforts have got international recognition as the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced the Global Champion award to Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. The award is given in recognition of his contribution to the development of the travel and tourism sector through attracting investments and fostering public private partnership.
The award ceremony took place on October 9, 2026, during the Global Summit, which gathered more than a thousand participants, including over two hundred executive directors of leading travel and tourism companies and government officials. The event underlines the importance of effective leadership, policy coordination, and public private partnership in growing destinations and building competitive advantages.
WTTC Recognises Türkiye’s Tourism Industry Leadership
The Global Champion Award winners were selected for their contribution to increasing the competitiveness of destinations and the travel and tourism sector’s overall attractiveness. The WTTC publicizes the achievement of public officials underlining their significant impact on tourism investment, development, and public private partnership.
According to the WTTC, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has developed a comprehensive strategy for the growth of Türkiye’s tourism industry as one of the most promising and competitive European destinations. In his work, he promotes the potential of the country as an attractive destination for leisure, cultural, and business travel and tourism. The WTTC noted Minister’s efforts in support of the tourism business, including investment attraction, and public private partnership.
Public Private Partnership for Tourism Development
Close and effective public private partnership is one of the essential priorities of Minister Ersoy’s tourism strategy. According to WTTC, Minister’s collaboration with the private tourism sector has enhanced industry competitiveness, investment, and development in the country.
Coordinated actions of tourism business and government are particularly important for the growth of the travel and tourism sector as they contribute to the enhancement of destination attractiveness and services’ quality. Besides, Türkiye is a strategically important tourism destination, connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, offering a wide range of diverse products and services and providing unique tourist experiences.
It has an excellent position in the European market, gathering customers from different segments: leisure, cultural, and business tourists. WTTC emphasised the importance of travel and tourism in terms of employment, economic growth, and international connectivity.
WTTC Forecasts Tourism Sector Growth in Türkiye
According to the WTTC forecast, travel and tourism’s contribution to Türkiye’s gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by 3.7% in 2026, and leisure travel spend by 4.1%. Thus, the organization expects a continuous growth of the travel and tourism sector in the country.
Commenting on the award, Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of the WTTC, noted Minister Ersoy’s efforts in fostering public-private partnership in tourism, supporting the sector’s growth, investment attraction, and innovation. She underlined the excellence of the Turkish tourism industry and its comparative advantages, achieved through close cooperation between government and business.
Finally, the WTTC promotes policies that build connectivity and competitiveness while fostering investment and sustainable growth across the global travel and tourism sector. The recognition of the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye by the WTTC has brought special attention to the public-private partnership in tourism and its advantages for destination competitiveness and tourism business development.
