Trabzon's 27-year tourism master plan unveiled

Trabzon's 27-year tourism master plan, which will shape the city's tourism future, was introduced to the public after approximately nine months of work. The plan was prepared with contributions from 34 academics from 15 different universities and includes 32 macro projects aimed at increasing the city's tourism potential. The launch meeting was attended by important figures such as Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç, Trabzon Governor Tahir Şahin, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan, and Chairman of the TBMM Public Works, Reconstruction, Transportation and Tourism Commission Adil Karaismailoğlu. Additionally, district mayors, representatives of public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and tourism sector representatives participated in the meeting.

In the preparation of the master plan, not only academics but also the opinions of public institutions, sector representatives, non-governmental organizations, and citizens were taken into account. The academic team led by Prof. Dr. İrfan Yazıcıoğlu emphasized that this broad participatory process is critical for the plan's success. The plan, consisting of approximately 1,300 pages, aims to protect Trabzon's natural, historical, and cultural values while spreading tourism over 12 months, creating high added value, and transforming the city into a competitive destination on an international scale.

Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç stated that the implementation phase of the plan is of great importance and announced the establishment of the Provincial Tourism, Promotion and Development Board, which will include all stakeholders under the chairmanship of Governor Tahir Şahin. Genç said, "We will now make tourism-related decisions with common sense. With the prepared action plans, we will implement this master plan and bring it to life." These statements indicate that the plan will not remain just a document but will be realized with concrete steps.

Chairman of the TBMM Public Works, Reconstruction, Transportation and Tourism Commission Adil Karaismailoğlu stated that Trabzon has significant tourism potential and that the prepared plan will be the city's roadmap. Karaismailoğlu said, "Our tourism constitution is ready. Our next goal is to make Trabzon a city hosting 14 million tourists annually." This target represents a substantial increase over the current number of tourists and reveals the ambitious nature of the plan.

Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan noted that Trabzon is one of Turkey's most important tourism destinations and that the city, which attracts intense interest especially from Gulf countries, aims to attract more tourists from different parts of the world thanks to the new master plan. Prominent projects in the master plan include the Trabzon Integrated Tourism Management System, Smart Destination and Carrying Capacity Management, Trabzon Transportation and Accessibility Strategy, Trabzon Global Brand and Storytelling Project, and the Sumela Integrated Experience and Living Museum Project. Additionally, special projects have been developed in areas such as gastronomy, health tourism, winter tourism, and cruise tourism.