News
09.04.2008Turkey: Overview on exhibition venues
In the running year 2008 more than 420 exhibitions are held in Turkey, organised by around 160 exhibition organisers. In the coming year 2009 13 trade shows, held by German exhibition organisers only, demonstrate that the Turkish market has a growing importance in the international exhibition scene.
The economic boom in Turkey since 2002 is the most stable one in the countrys younger history. The GDP per capita has risen during the last five years from around 2,600 Dollar to more than 7,000 Dollar. This fact and the countrys central position for the Eurasian region turn the Turkish exhibition market into a challenging experience.
Istanbul - The exhibition capital
By far Istanbul (officially around 12 mill inhabitants) is the leading exhibition city in Turkey. There are actually 4 main exhibition venues, of which CNR Expo is the largest with 80,000 sqm covered exhibition space in 8 halls, situated near the Ataturk Airport.
The neighbouring Istanbul Expo Center with another 2 halls (20,000 sqm) is run by the World Trade Center.
Equally important for international trade shows is the number two venue in Istanbul, the Tüyap Fair, Convention and Congress Center with 42,000 sqm (10 halls). Tüyap plans an extension of another 40,000 sqm, thus aiming to be the largest venue in Istanbul.
Tüyap Fair, Convention and Congress Center, IstanbulA new exhibition facility is actually under construction on the Asian side of the metropolis with a hall capacity of around 30,000 sqm. The project named VIAPORT will consist of the exhibition venue (planed to open in 2009), a shopping center and a hotel.
Izmir and Antalya - Exhibition venues on the Mediterranean Sea
The number 3 venue in size is the Antalya Expo Center, comprising 40,000 sqm in 6 two-storey halls, followed by Turkeys most traditional exhibition center, the Izmir International Fair Center covering 4 halls and around 24,000 sqm of exhibition space.
Smaller capacities in Ankara and Kayseri
Although being Turkeys political capital and number 2 city with 3.6 mill inhabitants, the exhibition space in Ankara is limited to 7,500 sqm of hall space in the Anfa Altinpark Expo-Center. The facility does only allow exhibitions limited in size.
Kayseri, one of the most important industry zones and trading centers of the country, hosts the WTC Exhibition Center (6,500 sqm). Its importance in the exhibition business is limited.
Regional exhibition centers run by Tüyap
The exhibition centers of Bursa, Konya and Adana, also managed by Tüyap, cover mainly trade shows and exhibitions of local or regional scale.
Source: KME Status: 05/2008
