BN Hotel Hosted the "2nd ECO Tour Operators Forum"

Mersin, a city known for its thermal and cultural tourism, has become a significant representative of Turkey's congress tourism sector thanks to increased industrial, commercial, logistics, and transportation investments in recent years. The first and only 5-star hotel to introduce thermal tourism to Mersin BN Hotel; hosted the Mersin leg of the 'Second ECO Tour Operators Forum', jointly hosted by Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with the aim of strengthening international cooperation between tour operators of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

The major forum, which will continue until November 22 and will also be held in Kyrenia, Cyprus, brought together tour operators from ECO member states and the Russian Federation with local tourism professionals in Mersin on November 18, 2025.

Cooperation opportunities and new markets in tourism were discussed at the forum.

The event, attended by the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) on behalf of Turkey, began with opening remarks by Hasan Tufan, Program Manager of the ECO Tourism Directorate, and Atilla Toros, Governor of Mersin. Governor Toros emphasized Mersin's growing potential as a tourism destination and its strategic position in terms of regional cooperation. B2B meetings held following the opening provided an opportunity to establish connections between international tour operators and local tourism stakeholders. Discussions focused on new tourism opportunities, companies' products and services, and collaboration opportunities such as accessing new markets through ECO.

Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency made a presentation introducing the GoTürkiye platform

The forum, held to explore multi-country tour package opportunities, build the capacity of tourism businesses, promote sustainability through collaboration in tourism, and support the development of diverse tourism destinations, featured a presentation by the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA). The TGA outlined its brand strategies for promoting the GoTürkiye platform, specifically for Türkiye's sustainable tourism destination brand.

Narlı: “The Forum allowed the promotion of Mersin’s rising tourism potential.”

Commenting on Mersin's hosting of a significant international tourism forum on behalf of Turkey, BN Hotel CEO Yusuf Narlı stated, “As BN Hotel, we are proud to host such a comprehensive forum on behalf of our country. The connection between our tour operators, key players in our tourism sector, and tourism professionals from participating countries will provide significant opportunities for both our city and our country. Mersin, while attracting attention with the thermal and cultural tourism we lead as BN Hotel, has also become a significant representative of Turkish congress tourism thanks to increased industrial, commercial, logistics, and transportation investments in recent years. High-speed rail, highway, and airport access, along with the increase in direct flights, have made Mersin an attractive destination for the business world and congress tourism. Our hotel, with its congress infrastructure, has become one of the leading facilities that directly contributes to Mersin's tourism vision.”

Narlı noted that the forum also provided an opportunity to showcase Mersin's nature, gastronomy, and cultural and faith tourism to the world. He said, "Forum participants had the opportunity to explore Mersin's cultural riches with a city tour. The tour included visits to Kızkalesi (Maiden's Castle), the Cenotes of Heaven and Hell, and Tarsus, where they sampled local delicacies. We extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency for their invaluable support in making this important forum for tourism possible in our city."

Source: HORECA TREND and BN Hotel