İzmir International Fair visitor decline sparks political debate

Political representatives are debating the declining performance and identity of the 95-year-old İzmir International Fair (İEF). YENİ Party İzmir Deputy Seda Kaya Ösen highlighted a significant drop in visitor numbers, noting that attendance fell from 776,843 in 2025 to 560,295 in 2026. She also pointed out a decrease in the daily average of visitors and suggested that the fair's identity and international standing must be re-evaluated in light of the changing political atmosphere in İzmir.

In response, AK Party İzmir Deputy Mahmut Atilla Kaya criticized Ösen's assessment, placing responsibility for the fair's current state on the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and İZFAŞ. Kaya argued that the fair has lost its original character, claiming he had previously warned that the event was turning into a “town fair.” He attributed the decline to the management of local political factions.