Under the auspices of the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, the Gaziantep Tourism Economy Development Strategy and Roadmap 2030, prepared by Kapadokya University, was officially unveiled.
The launch event brought together public officials, sector representatives, and key stakeholders in Gaziantep to introduce the strategic roadmap, which aims to strengthen the city’s tourism potential in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognized as one of Türkiye’s leading institutions in tourism, destination, and master planning, Kapadokya University has developed a scientifically grounded strategic framework to guide the medium- and long-term development of Gaziantep’s tourism economy.
Hosted by the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, the event was attended by representatives of public institutions, local governments, universities, professional organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the tourism sector, as well as Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin. The programme highlighted the importance of strong collaboration between local government and academia in producing strategic plans that generate long-term value for cities.
The strategy document, developed through the Search Conference process coordinated by Kapadokya University, identified gastronomy tourism as a primary development area, alongside cultural and faith tourism, museum and heritage site management, rural and ecotourism, and health and congress tourism. In addition, destination management, promotion and branding, digital transformation, human resource development, and service quality enhancement were established as key pillars of the action plan.
The roadmap aims to preserve Gaziantep’s UNESCO-recognised gastronomy heritage and rich cultural and historical assets while transforming them into sustainable economic value through tourism. Child- and family-friendly tourism, accessible tourism, and environmental sustainability were also identified as priority areas. As a result, the roadmap provides a comprehensive strategic framework that addresses not only the city’s current needs but also its long-term development vision.
During the launch programme, Prof. Dr. Bilgehan Gülcan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halil Burak Sakal, and Research Assistant Fatıma Tüzzehra Albayrak from Cappadocia University presented the methodology, priorities, and implementation framework of the strategy and roadmap. Combining academic expertise with field-based research, the project is expected to enhance Gaziantep’s competitiveness as a tourism destination while contributing sustainably to the local economy.
The collaboration between Cappadocia University and the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality represents an exemplary model for strategic planning in Türkiye, built upon scientific evidence, measurable objectives, and practical implementation, demonstrating the value of university–local government partnerships in supporting sustainable regional development.
