Business · Economy · 1 day ago
Istanbul congress tourism brings more than $800 million in five years
Istanbul has earned more than $800 million in foreign-currency income from congress tourism since 2022, according to Şekib Avdagiç, head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and the Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Nearly 200,000 congress visitors came to the city during that period, spending up to $4,000 each.
Their spending on hotels, food, transport and other activities also benefits businesses beyond the conference venues.
In the first eight months of this year, Istanbul hosted 67 congresses with about 30,000 participants, bringing in $120 million in related income.
Avdagiç expects visitor numbers to rise further as congress activity increases in the autumn.
Istanbul hosted 95 international congresses in 2025, up from 58 in 2022, and ranked 18th globally that year.
The city aims to become one of the world’s top 10 congress destinations and is continuing efforts to attract future events.
Istanbul hosted nearly 500 congresses since 2022, bringing about 200,000 congress visitors and more than $800 million in foreign-currency revenue, Şekib Avdagiç said.
The revenue figure covers direct spending, including accommodation, transport, tours and food and drink.
In the first eight months of 2026, the city held 67 congresses attended by about 30,000 people, generating $120 million in those categories.
Avdagiç said Istanbul aims to become one of the world’s 10 leading congress destinations.
He said the city’s international congress count rose from 58 in 2022 to 95 in 2025.
- Who
- Istanbul, through nearly 500 congresses and about 200,000 congress visitors; the figures were shared by Şekib Avdagiç.
- What
- Congress tourism generated more than $800 million in foreign-currency revenue for Istanbul since 2022.
- When
- Since 2022; the article was published on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Istanbul, Turkey.
- Why
- Congress visitors spend on accommodation, transport, food and drink, tours and other activities, supporting the city’s economy.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Since 2022, with ICVB’s contributions, Istanbul has hosted nearly 500 congresses, and approximately 200,000 congress tourists who came to Istanbul generated more than 800 million dollars in foreign-currency revenue for the Istanbul economy, with spending reaching 4,000 dollars per person.
As this spending circulates in the local economy, the total impact is undoubtedly much greater.
We aim to make Istanbul a global meeting point where the world’s important international congresses are held.
Our goal is to position Istanbul among the world’s 10 most important congress destinations.
Istanbul held 58 international congresses, according to Avdagiç.
Istanbul hosted nearly 500 congresses, drawing about 200,000 congress tourists and generating more than $800 million in foreign-currency revenue.
Istanbul held 95 international congresses and ranked 18th globally, Avdagiç said.
Istanbul held 67 congresses with about 30,000 participants, generating $120 million in accommodation, transport, tour and food-and-drink revenue.
- Congress tourists since 2022
- About 200,000
- Congress tourism revenue
- More than $800 million
- Congress events since 2022
- Nearly 500
- Congresses in first eight months of 2026
- 67
- International congresses in 2025
- 95
- Istanbul’s 2025 global ranking
- 18th
Sources
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