First major Turkish tourism workshop held in Budapest – PHOTOS
The first large-scale Turkish Tourism Workshop in Budapest wrapped up yesterday, offering Hungarian travel agencies and tourism professionals a unique opportunity to network and learn about the latest developments and trends in Turkish tourism. The event was held at the five-star Matild Palace hotel.
In her opening remarks, Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Hungary, highlighted the resounding success of the 2024 Turkish–Hungarian Cultural Year as a major boost to the tourism relationship between the two countries. Thanks to more than 130 cultural events and extensive media coverage—including 26 print, 53 television, and numerous radio appearances—Turkey has been in the spotlight in Hungary throughout 2024. As a result of press and influencer trips, major Hungarian lifestyle and travel magazines have published impressive features on Türkiye.
“Türkiye is no longer known only as a summer beach destination, but as a year-round travel hotspot rich in culture, art, history, and wellness experiences,” the ambassador emphasized.
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In 2024, more than 250,000 Hungarians traveled to Türkiye, and based on Q1 trends for 2025, that number could surpass 280,000. During the same period, Türkiye also set a global tourism record, welcoming 8.844 million international visitors and generating $9.5 billion in tourism revenue—the country’s strongest first-quarter performance to date. This year’s goal: 65 million international tourists and $64 billion in revenue.
The workshop aimed to provide Hungarian industry partners with updated information, tools, and inspiration to help drive even more Hungarian travelers to Türkiye over the next 9 to 12 months. The ambassador noted, “This is just the beginning. It marks the first step in a long-term collaboration based on trust and shared cultural values.”
During their presentation, representatives from the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) underscored the significance of the Hungarian market for Türkiye. They also pointed to the growing interest in cultural, gastronomic, wellness, and active tourism in recent years. Türkiye, they noted, isn’t just a vacation destination—it offers experiential travel opportunities all year round.
The evening concluded with a networking dinner, providing further opportunities to build connections and strengthen partnerships.
The importance of this first Turkish B2B workshop was evident in the broad attendance: travel agencies and tour operators came not only from Budapest but from across the country.
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