Demirağ's Statement on the Taşköprü-Santa Festival: Regional Cooperation Will Benefit Gümüşhane

The festival planned to be held in the Taşköprü and Santa regions, as a joint organization by Gümüşhane and Trabzon, continues to be a subject of widespread public debate. Following these discussions, Gümüşhane Kent Konseyi Başkanı Rüstem Demirağ made a comprehensive statement on the matter via his social media accounts. Demirağ emphasized that the joint organization would not harm Gümüşhane's cultural identity; on the contrary, it offers an opportunity to promote the city to wider audiences. The President stated that these collaborations with Trabzon in the field of tourism hold extremely significant opportunities for the city's economy and international promotion. Noting that the differing opinions expressed in recent days are the exercise of a democratic right, he added that this process should be strategically evaluated in line with the future vision of the city.

In his statement, Demirağ underscored that collaborating does not mean compromising Gümüşhane's identity, deep-rooted culture, or history. On the contrary, he stated that this partnership serves a critical bridge function to deliver Gümüşhane's unique natural, historical, and cultural riches to wider audiences through the dynamics of neighboring provinces. Referring also to the Gümüşhane Turizm Master Plan Çalıştayı held in recent months under the leadership of the İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü, Demirağ reminded that industry professionals and academics reached a consensus at this meeting. He stated that one of the most striking outcomes of the aforementioned workshop was the identification that Gümüşhane's collaborations, particularly with Trabzon in the tourism sector, represent a massive opportunity. He added that as a result of this strategic planning, regional integration is seen as an indispensable tool for local development.

Emphasizing that Trabzon's already intense and dynamic tourism mobility can easily be transformed into an opportunity for Gümüşhane, Demirağ articulated another important strategic goal. Reminding that millions of domestic and foreign tourists visit Trabzon every year, Demirağ said that bringing a significant portion of these tourists together with Gümüşhane is their primary objective. He stated that the only way to realize this vision is to act together and in harmony rather than competing. He noted that developing joint projects and conducting marketing and promotional activities together will create a commercial synergy for both cities. He emphasized that shedding the psychology of rivalry and creating a regional tourism destination will elevate both provinces to a much more competitive position in the global tourism market.

He stated that the Taşköprü and Santa regions, where the festival is planned, are administratively located within the borders of Gümüşhane and therefore constitute the city's own wealth, but these areas also carry the characteristics of the region's shared cultural heritage. Noting that joint national and international events to be organized in these historical and natural areas will provide direct and indirect economic contributions to Gümüşhane, he made the following remarks. He expressed that all commercial sectors of the city, from its tradesmen to accommodation facilities and from local restaurants to regional product producers, will be positively affected by this organization and will experience an economic revitalization. He specifically emphasized that in this scenario, the winner will not be just Trabzon; on the contrary, the entire region will be the winning side. He added to his remarks that the most significant and primary stakeholder of this regional gain and economic prosperity will undoubtedly be Gümüşhane.

Noting that the world has entered a new era where cities no longer compete solely on their own but by forming strong regions to compete on a global scale, Demirağ crowned his statement with global examples. He reminded that almost all successful tourism destinations in the world have grown and increased their brand value by collaborating with the cities around them. He added that Gümüşhane must act similarly in line with this modern tourism vision, but that the city's name, deep-rooted culture, and local values must always be kept at the forefront during this process. He stated that showing this sensitivity is the most fundamental and indispensable condition for any collaboration to be made with Trabzon. He concluded his speech by expressing his belief that when prejudice is replaced by collective wisdom and integration is preferred over polarization, the ultimate winner will always be Gümüşhane.