Ankara leverages NATO summit to boost tourism and launch Turkish World Tourism Capital projects

The 36th NATO State and Government Leaders Summit held in Ankara on 7‑8 July 2026 attracted delegations from 32 NATO countries, international organisations and over 2,500 journalists. According to the Ankara Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the summit generated roughly 600 million TRY in hotel revenue and a total economic impact of 800‑900 million TRY, with 23 hotels reaching full occupancy and about 7,000 foreign guests staying in the city.

Berker Bülbüloğlu, owner of the Nakia Restaurant and founder of the Ankara Tourism Association, urged that the global attention be turned into lasting tourism growth, proposing a digital tourism monitoring panel to track search trends, flight bookings and social media activity.

Separately, the Turkish States Organization’s tourism ministers meeting on 9 July 2025 designated Ankara as the 2026 Turkish World Tourism Capital. The Ankara Development Agency will award contracts for projects under a 10 million TRY Technical Support Programme, aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and fostering international cooperation. The signing ceremony is scheduled for 3 August 2026, with officials such as Prof. Dr. Kürşad Zorlu and Ahmet Şimşek in attendance.