PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

İstanbul, the forward-looking inheritor of a history of 8500 years, the capital of three World civilizations… İstanbul; cradle of faith, culture, and trade… the heart of Turkish economy.… This unique city hosting ancient civilizations during centuries appears today as a hub for convention on the global scale where ideas, business skills, arts, sports and sciences meet.

We, as the İstanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau, we started to follow our path with determination in 1997, assume to improve these values that İstanbul already owns and introduce them to the World as our fundamental duty.

Within this reputable structure, for 20 years, we are working as an important platform moving İstanbul’s brand value forward and establishing bridges from Turkey to rest of the World.

As ICVB, our main purpose is bringing in international congress and conference organizations to our city and introducing İstanbul’s congress and meeting opportunities with the world by means of international congress institutions of which we are member.

We know very well that, congress tourism means qualified and high-level introduction opportunities for our city and country. At this point, every success gained by ICVB, is a steady cornerstone built for the sake of not only İstanbul but also of Turkey.

We believe that our city, with the collaboration of business World and tourism organizations, will retake her place in top 10 list of World congress destinations by 2019. On that note, 2018, the year that we began with breaking all-time tourism records, constitutes a turning point refreshing hopes for the future. As ICVB, our ultimate goal is to see İstanbul among top 5 cities in World ranking in this ever-growing sector by 2023.

I believe that, the path we walk on in harmony will continue to bring the World together in İstanbul.

With my deepest greetings and regards,

Şekib Avdagiç

President of ICVB