A Bicycle Tourism Workshop was held hosted by the Metropolitan Municipality.

The “Gaziantep Bicycle Tourism Workshop” was organized by the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality to develop the tourism potential of the city.

In Gaziantep, a city that promises great potential in tourism with its history, culture, geography, and cuisine, efforts are ongoing under the leadership of the Metropolitan Municipality to increase tourism diversity.

To promote the widespread use of bicycles, which stand out as a clean and eco-friendly mode of transportation, the Metropolitan Municipality is making infrastructure investments and brought together several institutions within the scope of the Gaziantep Bicycle Tourism Workshop to create tourism potential.

Bicycle tourism was examined from every aspect through presentations.

In the workshop organized in cooperation with the Turkish Tourism Development Agency (TGA) and the Southeastern Anatolia Tourist Hoteliers and Businessmen Association (GATOD), the contributions that bicycle tourism, which offers significant growth opportunities, could make to Gaziantep were evaluated. The workshop was attended by Gaziantep Metropolitan Mayor Fatma Şahin, officials from relevant units, TGA representatives, GATOD President and members, EuroVelo Turkey Representative, and Presidents of TÜRSAB and GARO. Institutions assessed every aspect of bicycle tourism with the presentations they prepared. The positive and negative aspects of bicycle tourism in Gaziantep were discussed.

Bicycle tourism, which has become an important trend in global tourism, especially in European Union countries, is aimed to find a significant place in the tourism infrastructure of Green City Gaziantep with its eco-friendly aspect.

“If we do not speak the language of world cities, we cannot maintain the competitiveness of the city.”

In her opening speech at the workshop, Gaziantep Metropolitan Mayor Fatma Şahin stated that they are implementing projects centered on improving the quality of life to pass the ecology of Gaziantep cleanly to future generations, saying, “We have quickly modernized our fleets in transportation. We are currently working hard to switch to hydrogen buses. If we cannot speak the language of Cologne Municipality, Paris Municipality, and Barcelona Municipality, we cannot maintain the competitiveness of this city. If everyone from 7 to 70 uses bicycles on bicycle paths in Germany, we thought we should do the same. We looked at bicycle paths; we have completed 79 kilometers of the current 150-kilometer bicycle path. We will complete this 150-kilometer route quickly.”

“We need to make bicycles a part of life.”

Continuing her speech, Mayor Şahin exemplified the importance of bicycles in human health and the fight against obesity with international research, stating, “Right now, we are organizing the world bicycle competition for the disabled. We want a world where everyone from 7 to 70 uses the bicycle path. For children to use the bicycle path, bicycles need to be made safe for use. This table is very important. If this is a sports vehicle, it is the most beautiful of sports. If this is a transportation vehicle, it is the most beautiful of transportations. Today, every car we ride pollutes the air, water, and soil. We need to make bicycles a part of life. Bicycles are green transportation, healthy living. We will achieve this together for a cleaner world, a healthier world.”