In recognition of Turkey’s increasing importance as an energy corridor, and Istanbul as one of the world’s Top 10 congress destinations, Istanbul has been chosen to host the World Forum on Energy Regulation (WFER VI) in 2015.
Istanbul Congress & Visitors Bureau (ICVB) and Energy Management Regulatory Authority of Turkey (EMRA) have just announced that, thanks to their joint efforts, Istanbul has won the prestigious WFER conference, beating Mexico City and St. Petersburg.
Together, the two organizations brought Turkey’s burgeoning role as a major energy corridor, with several oil pipelines and supply routes crisscrossing the country like a modern-day Silk Road, to the attention of International Confederation of Energy Regulators (ICER). Regulation is an important factor in the proper management of these routes and resources, and EMRA, as the architect of energy regulation policy in Turkey, was well-positioned to make the case for Istanbul.
A deciding factor in the bid’s success was undoubtedly Istanbul’s extensive congress facilities, which make the city an increasingly attractive choice to host world-class congresses. In 2010, Istanbul made it into the Top 10 Congress Destinations, ranking 7th worldwide. According to ICCA’s most recent data, Istanbul has managed to consolidate its position in the Top Ten by hosting a greater number of congresses in 2011.
Another factor in Istanbul’s success as a congress destination is its easy accessibility from anywhere in the world. Turkish Airlines, a member of the Star Alliance, offers almost 200 direct destination flights between Istanbul and five continents, meaning that two billion people live within six hours’ flying time of the city. With two airports, one on the Asian side of the city and the other on the European side, Istanbul is served by nearly 300 international airlines.
For further information, please contact Çağla Demircioğlu, ICVB sales & marketing coordinator at cagla@icvb.org or on +90 212 522 5555.
