The 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Ankara on July 7-8, has delivered a substantial economic contribution to the capital's tourism and service sectors.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Ankara Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Erhan Karakaya emphasized the strategic importance of the summit for the city. He noted that Ankara possesses sufficient accommodation capacity to host international events of this magnitude.
Data indicates that approximately 5,500 guests were accommodated across 23 hotels during the summit. In total, the number of foreign visitors arriving in the capital reached nearly 7,000.
Official figures show that the hotel sector alone generated 600 million lira in revenue. When factoring in catering, small retail businesses, and other service sectors, the total economic gain for Ankara between July 1-8 reached between 800 and 900 million lira. This figure represents an approximate six-fold increase compared to the same period last year.
Erhan Karakaya highlighted that such international events not only generate short-term economic benefits but also facilitate the global promotion of Ankara and attract new tourism investments.
It should be noted that Ankara is already preparing for upcoming international events. Preparations are currently underway for the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, scheduled to take place in October. The Organization of Turkic States serves as a vital platform for fostering cooperation among Turkic-speaking nations, and hosting such high-level summits underscores Ankara's growing role as a hub for international diplomacy.
