International Tourism, Economy and Culture Congress 2024 Organized in Skopje with TİKA’s Supports

The International Tourism, Economy and Culture Congress 2024 (ITEC), organized in cooperation between Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Sivas Cumhuriyet University, International Balkan University and Kilis 7 Aralık University, was held in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.

Within the scope of the congress, organized to create and develop new ideas, and ultimately to lead the development in related fields, and held with the participation of academicians, researchers, sector representatives and students interested in tourism, economy, culture sectors, 32 different sessions were organized, including 182 papers presented by 353 academicians hailing from 23 different countries.

During various sessions, the interrelations between sectors were focused on, and possible cooperation areas were determined. In addition, new approaches and ideas, which will contribute to Türkiye’s touristic and economic relations with Balkan countries, especially North Macedonia, which shares a common history and culture with Türkiye, were also evaluated.

Speaking at the opening program, TİKA’s Coordinator in Skopje, Mehmet Bayrak said, “The rich cultural diversity of North Macedonia undoubtedly holds significant potential for the development of the country’s tourism economy. TİKA, as Türkiye’s institution responsible for development aid, has been supporting projects and activities in the fields of cultural cooperation and restoration to trigger this potential.”

The Rector of Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Prof. Dr. Alim Yıldız also said, “I hope that the congress will contribute to the tourism academy and lead to new projects and cooperations. I would like to express my gratitude to the institutions that contributed to the congress.”

The Rector of Kilis 7 Aralık University, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Doğan Karacoşkun evaluated, “I think it has become more important that countries focus more on the issue of cultural heritage as a model of building their future by preserving their past, while they compete in the field of tourism, and try to produce added value and strengthen their economies.”

At the end of the congress, participants received their certificates.