ANKARA — Türkiye’s hosting of the 36th NATO Summit delivered an estimated 900 million Turkish liras (approximately $19 million) in economic benefits to Ankara, driven by spending on accommodation, dining, transportation, shopping and tourism-related services during the high-profile international event.
The Turkish capital welcomed NATO heads of state and government on July 7–8, marking the first time Ankara hosted the alliance’s leaders’ summit. The event provided a significant boost to the city’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
According to Erhan Karakaya, Ankara’s Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism, the summit was one of the world’s largest international gatherings and represented a major achievement for the city.
A total of 23 hotels, the majority of them five-star properties, were designated to accommodate summit participants. Around 5,500 official guests stayed in these hotels, while the total number of foreign visitors hosted across Ankara during the summit reached approximately 7,000.
Karakaya said Ankara’s accommodation infrastructure successfully met the demands of an event of this scale, with hotels, restaurants, transport operators and local businesses coordinating efficiently to ensure high levels of visitor satisfaction.
The summit also generated increased business for retailers, restaurants and transportation providers, contributing to a broad-based economic impact across the capital.
Officials noted that Ankara’s successful organization of the NATO Summit strengthened its reputation as a destination capable of hosting major international diplomatic events and large-scale conferences.
Beyond its economic impact, the summit underscored Türkiye’s strategic role within the NATO alliance, as leaders discussed collective defense, increased defense investment, industrial cooperation and continued support for Ukraine.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök