IAPCO Strengthens Global Network with New Türkiye Partnership

Group signing at IAPCO Annual Meeting and General Assembly in Athens, including (from left to right) Veli Aydın – Cultural and Tourism Attaché of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Athens, Dr. Elif Balcı Fisunoğlu – Deputy General Manager of TGA, Sissi Lignou – President of IAPCO, Martin Boyle – CEO of IAPCO

The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) has strengthened its global destination network with the addition of the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) as its newest Destination Partner.

The partnership represents a significant milestone in Türkiye’s international business events strategy, providing the destination with direct access to IAPCO’s global network of accredited Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs), association meeting planners and industry decision-makers.

The move comes at a time when destinations worldwide are intensifying efforts to attract high-value international congresses and association meetings, recognising the economic impact, knowledge exchange and long-term legacy these events generate. In this increasingly competitive environment, collaboration between destinations and specialist congress organisers has become a critical component of successful bidding and event delivery strategies.

Strengthening global connections

For IAPCO, the partnership reflects Türkiye’s growing profile within the international meetings sector, supported by continued investment in infrastructure, accessibility and international engagement.

Reflecting on the partnership, Sissi Lignou (on the right), President of IAPCO said: “Türkiye has demonstrated strong momentum and ambition within the global meetings industry, supported by ongoing investment in infrastructure, accessibility and international engagement.

“This partnership is a valuable addition to the IAPCO Destination Partner community, and we look forward to strengthening collaboration with TGA and Türkiye’s wider business events ecosystem.”

Türkiye has continued to build its reputation as a leading destination for international meetings and congresses, combining extensive venue infrastructure with strong air connectivity and a strategic geographical position bridging Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
 

Istanbul Congress Center

Growing international profile

The country's growing influence within the association meetings sector is reflected in recent industry rankings. According to International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) 2024 data cited by TGA, Istanbul ranked eighth globally among cities hosting medical and healthcare congresses, underlining its strength as a regional centre for research, innovation and academic exchange.

For TGA, joining IAPCO is seen as a key step in raising Türkiye’s visibility among international event organisers and strengthening its competitiveness in the global MICE marketplace.

Dr. Elif Balcı Fisunoğlu (on the right), Deputy General Manager of TGA, said: “TGA becoming an IAPCO Destination Partner represents an important milestone in our international growth strategy and reflects the rising power of Türkiye in the global MICE sector.

“This partnership provides an important opportunity to directly showcase Türkiye’s unique blend of accessibility, world-class infrastructure, hospitality and cultural richness to a global network of event decision-makers. Through closer collaboration with IAPCO and its members, we aim to further strengthen Türkiye’s competitiveness and visibility within the international meetings landscape.”

Supporting long-term industry development

Beyond destination promotion, the partnership is expected to foster closer collaboration in areas including sustainability, advocacy and professional development, supporting broader efforts to advance standards and best practice across the global meetings industry.

As part of its long-term strategy for the sector, TGA has also launched MeetingInTürkiye, a dedicated digital platform operating under the MeetTürkiye brand. Designed to support international organisers throughout the event planning process, the platform provides destination information, congress support services and access to Türkiye’s meetings and events ecosystem.

The new partnership further reinforces Türkiye’s ambitions to attract a growing share of international association meetings and congresses, while strengthening its position as one of the emerging powerhouses within the global business events industry.
 

Istanbul Congress Valley
 

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