The eighth International Antalya Tourism Fair, branded ATF26, opened on Monday at the ANFAŞ Antalya Fair Centre and runs until Wednesday, 28 October. Organisers expect more than 40,000 tourism professionals from over 100 countries to attend the three-day trade event.
According to the trade publication Türkiye Turizm, more than 2,500 hosted buyers were chosen for the fair from over 20,000 applications, and the hotel brands taking part account for more than 240,000 beds. Local outlet Gündem Alanya reported that over 1,000 tourism brands and more than 2,500 international travel agencies are represented.
Governor: Antalya earns 44% of tourism revenue
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin said Türkiye ranks among the world’s top five countries for both visitor numbers and tourism revenue, and that holding that position despite recent setbacks showed the sector’s resilience, Gündem Alanya reported.
Şahin described Antalya as the centre of Turkish tourism, citing 111 million overnight stays and saying the province generates 44% of the country’s tourism revenue. He argued that destinations should cooperate rather than compete, noting that Antalya’s tourism is linked to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Muğla and Mersin. He also named transport, security, the environment and waste management as critical issues, and said investment should not be concentrated in a single area.
The latest figures on Antalya’s foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2026 show how much the province depends on international arrivals.
Who is taking part
The opening programme brought together ATF founding chairman Selçuk Meral, AKTOB (the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Investors Association) chairman Kaan Kaşif Kavaloğlu, a deputy chairman of TÜRSAB (the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies), acting Antalya metropolitan mayor Büşra Özdemir, Türkiye İş Bankası deputy general manager Sezgin Yılmaz and a representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Rixos Hotels founder Fettah Tamince gave a keynote on the global journey of Turkish tourism brands.
Alongside business meetings between hotels, tour operators and agencies, the fair includes a Startup Hub linking tourism technology start-ups with investors, an ATF Tourism Cities programme on destination branding and an ATF Genç section aimed at connecting young people with the industry. A Tourism Media Awards ceremony is scheduled for 27 October on the main stage.
Türkiye Turizm noted that the combined trade volume of more than 54 billion euros quoted by organisers reflects the size of the participating agencies’ businesses, not the value of deals signed at the fair.
What it means for residents
ATF26 is aimed at tourism businesses, and the governor’s emphasis on transport, waste management and spreading investment touches issues that also shape daily life in the province. Antalya is separately preparing to host the COP31 climate summit, with hotel rooms already growing scarce ahead of it. For a broader look at life in the province, see our guide to living in Antalya.
Sources
- Uluslararası Antalya Turizm Fuarı başladı (Gündem Alanya)
- Antalya Turizm Fuarı ATF 2026 kapılarını açtı (Türkiye Turizm)
Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
