Orhan Yalman Okan, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Hyderabad, recently conducted productive meetings on 24th–25th September 2025. These were held with the presidents and representatives of India’s leading travel trade associations — Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), and Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) to strengthen tourism cooperation between Türkiye and India.
The meetings were attended by 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 Embassy of Türkiye in New Delhi, also joined the discussions.
The Türkiye delegation underlined the importance attached to 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 upcoming activities announced included “Turkish Film Days” in November 2025 and the “Türkiye Education Fair”, along with 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 that a new edition will be held 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 Göbeklitepe 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 İstanbul on 17 October to facilitate travel between the two countries and strengthen business ties. They expressed keen interest in participating and contributing to its success. The delegations also reaffirmed their commitment to restoring and expanding tourism links. They extended support for Türkiye’s annual roadshow in February and urged the early resumption of Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul–Hyderabad flights. In addition, they 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.
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