Tourism Investment Forum (TIF), one of the most important global platforms of tourism investments, was held in Istanbul with the theme of 'Destination Future Türkiye'.

The event hosted by the Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TTYD) was organized in cooperation with the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Investment Office, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) strategic partnership and Questex. Turkey's leading chain marina operator Setur Marinas also participated in this prestigious forum, which brought together all stakeholders of the tourism ecosystem.

TIF 2024 hosted many high-level participants this year, shedding light on the future of travel and tourism investments in different sessions. Many topics were discussed in depth, from strategic planning to financial solutions, from trends to luxury and lifestyle brands, from digitalization in tourism to climatic risks.

Setur Marinas General Manager Emre Doruk He was one of the speakers at the session titled 'From Source to Target: Ensuring Sustainability in Tourism'. Emre Doruk, who touched on the importance of the organization for Turkish tourism, also explained Setur Marinas' sustainability investments, its vision to pioneer environmentally friendly practices and future goals.

Organized by TTYD, the largest non-governmental organization of tourism investors, with 36 years of experience, TIF serves as a critical platform for networking, collaboration and financing opportunities in the tourism sector. The event brings together influential thought leaders in the tourism industry, international investors, financial institutions, banks, fund representatives, local and global travel/hotel brands, technology players, real estate developers and public institutions.

TIF not only serves as a strategic meeting point for Turkey's tourism investments on the world stage, but also carries the vision of being an organization that will shape the future of global tourism.

Source: HORECA TREND and Setur Marinas

ZMany important topics were discussed at the summit, from food economy to innovation, from artificial intelligence to regenerative agriculture. Deputy Director General of Agricultural Reform Mehmet Kilci, talking about the financial support given to agriculture, said that the agricultural support budget, which was 2024 billion TL in 91,5, is expected to be 2025 billion TL in 135. Speaking to the press after the summit, Kaan Sidar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Food Industry Employers' Union (TÜGİS) “Implementing sustainability at every stage of the food chain, from farm to table, is vital to ensuring future generations have access to a safe and fair food system,” he said. 

The Sustainable Food Summit, organized for the 10th time this year with the aim of developing a common vision and strategy for the redesign of the food chain and addressing the theme of “Transformation for the Future of Food”, was held in Istanbul with the participation of a large audience. The opening speech of the summit, which was held on November 21-22 in collaboration with the Turkish Food Industry Employers’ Union (TÜGİS) and the Sustainability Academy, was made by the Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır.

Names from Bureaucracy, Academia, Finance, Business World and Media Came Together

The two-day summit featured speakers such as Yıldız Holding Board Member, pladis and Godiva Board Chairman Murat Ülker, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Deputy Director General Sezai Cibelik, Agricultural Reform Deputy Director General Mehmet Kilci, NB Ekonomi Newspaper Editorial Board Chairman Şeref Oğuz, Hacettepe University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Vural Gökmen, Bitkiden Association Board Chairman Ebru Akdağ, Yeditepe University Food Engineering Department Professor Dr. Yeşim Ekinci, FAO Turkey Deputy Representative Dr. Ayşegül Selışık, Ankara University Food Engineering Department and TÜGİS Science Board Member Prof. Dr. Nevzat Artık and many other names from the academy and business world.   

Food Supply Security is a Priority Issue

Speaking at the session titled “New Era in Agriculture – Agricultural Production Planning” on the second day of the summit, Deputy Director General of Agricultural Reform Mehmet Kilci drew attention to the fact that factors such as economic, social and environmental developments, global climate change, water shortages, increasing population and urbanization have increased the importance of food supply security. In his statements, Kilci underlined that an effective planning process that will ensure the optimum use of natural resources is essential to ensure food supply security. He conveyed that studies such as determining which products or product groups will be produced on an agricultural basin or enterprise basis, protecting supply security in strategic products, and determining minimum and maximum production quantities according to country needs will be put into effect.  

Agricultural Support Budget for 2025: 135 Billion TL

Referring to the supports to be provided in agriculture, Kilci said; “In order to encourage the application of “Agricultural Production Planning” and to ensure its adoption by producers, we have harmonized interest-reduced loans and rural development grant programs, especially agricultural supports. The agricultural support budget, which was 2024 billion TL in 91,5, is projected to be 2025 billion TL for 135. Similarly, we evaluate interest-reduced loans as an important tool for financing agriculture. For this purpose, our producers who produce in accordance with production planning benefit from a 20 percent interest rate discount. Both supports and loans are important arguments for meeting the financial needs of our farmers as well as an important tool for encouraging production planning. On the other hand, important regulations have been implemented for the development and dissemination of contracted production. For this purpose, standard contracts have been prepared and published on the basis of production issues, and a mediation system specific to contracted production has been put into effect by the Ministry of Justice in order to protect the rights of the parties and to ensure rapid and effective resolution of disputes.” 

Call for Shared Responsibility for Sustainable Food

Making a statement to the press after the Sustainable Food Summit, TÜGİS Board Chairman Kaan Sidar said, “At our summit, which we organized for the 10th time this year, we discussed with representatives of the food ecosystem how food systems can be designed to produce enough food to feed the world population despite limited resources and the effects of the climate crisis, and how transformation can be achieved. The valuable speakers who took the floor in the sessions emphasized once again that “food” is not just a consumer product; it is one of the cornerstones of public health, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. Ensuring sustainability at every stage of the food chain, from farm to table, is of vital importance for future generations to have access to a safe and fair food system. As TÜGİS, we will continue our work without slowing down to increase cooperation in the sector and develop innovative solutions with our mission to be the pioneer of this transformation.” Sidar concluded his speech by thanking all speakers, participants and everyone who contributed to the Sustainable Food Summit.

For more information about the summit https://zirve.surdurulebilirgida.com.tr/ You can visit. 

Source: HORECA TREND and TÜGİS

Drawing attention with the talent he displayed in the prestigious competition, which included participants from 12 different provinces of Egypt, Cyprus and Turkey, Şimşek stated that the support and working environment he received from Bayou Villas played a major role in his success.

Berkay Şimşek's award-winning beverage SATORİ is inspired by Zen Buddhism's journey of inner enlightenment, and this journey is presented in three stages in the drink's stylish presentation. ZAZEN (Emptying the Mind and Focusing); focuses by purifying the mind with balanced and peaceful flavors. KOAN (Mental Development); experiences the process of connecting with nature. And SATORİ (Ultimate Enlightenment) explores spiritual enlightenment by embarking on a sensory journey with the ritual of drawing symbols in a Zen garden.

Offering not only a drink but also a special experience with SATORİ, Berkay Şimşek's goal is to take his success one step further by representing Turkey in the international arena.

A Special World in Each Villa

Welcoming its guests with different beauties in every season, Bayou Villas combines luxury and comfort with the peaceful beauty of nature as an exclusive holiday resort with the approval of Condé Nast Johansens. Offering special opportunities for every season of the year, this elegant holiday spot promises its guests an unforgettable experience. Bayou Villas offers its guests a special world in each of its villas. The fitness area, Turkish bath, sauna, massage room and heated seawater pool in the villas offer its guests the opportunity to both relax and renew. Every detail in Bayou Villas has been designed with the comfort and convenience of the guests in mind.

Source: HORECA TREND and Bayou Villas