Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay, State Minister Hayati Yazici, Istanbul Culture and Tourism Director Ahmet Emre Bilgili attended the ceremony.

The awards ceremony started with a short but great recital by Ankara State Orchestra and continued with the welcome speech of Ahmet E. Bilgili.

Mr. Bilgili stated that Istanbul Tourism Awards will continue to be in fewer categories but will be well qualified and will be given to the top contributors of Istanbul culture and tourism.

Bilgili said that the jury is selected carefully. The jury of this year’s Istanbul Tourism Awards had following names:

Istanbul Vice-Governor Feyzullah Özcan, TÜRSAB President Başaran Ulusoy, TUROB President Timur Bayındır, TUREB President Şerif Yenen, Sinan Genim, Istanbul Tourism Atölyesi President Tülin Ersöz, TUGEV President Yılmaz Tecimen, Faruk Pekin, Ersin Kalkan, Esra Ekmekçi,

Numan Güzey, Mehmet Ata Tansuğ, Yılmaz Teoman.

Bilgili added that Istanbul recorded a growth of 5% in the tourist arrivals during the first 9 months of 2009. Bilgili expressed that Istanbul is a powerful candidate to be an important destination for culture and MICE tourism.

The Creative Project Award winner: Mrs. Nedret Butler with the Sumahan Hotel project.

The Special Award winner: Temel Kotil; General Manager of Turkish Airlines

The Activity Award winner: Dr. Nazan Ölçer – Sabanci Museum

The Honor Award winner: Suna and Inan Kiraç – Pera Museum

Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay announced that Top 10 countries of global travel industry see a decrease in tourist numbers. Mr. Günay indicated growth of tourist arrivals of some countries such as; France -9%, USA -10%, Spain -9,9% China -8%, Mexico -6,8%, Greece -7,5%. Mr. Günay was proud of announcing Turkey’s tourist arrival figure of +1,47% from January – September, while almost all top players of global travel industry face a decline in tourism.

Günay also added that Istanbul is expected to host 7,5 million tourists by the year end.

Speaking at the night, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey increased tourist numbers visiting the country from 13 million to 26 million and a tourism income of 26 billion dollars in very short time thanks to diversified tourism products and services. Erdogan said that now Turkey is not only a sea-sand-sun offering country, but attracting travelers with other tourism products as congresses, conventions, culture, nature, religion.