Turkey’s first and only: Erciyes entered the Alps League with ‘ICAR’.

Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç announced that Erciyes Ski Center has become the first and only ski resort in Turkey to be a member of the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) by receiving the votes of all members at the ICAR Congress.

Erciyes A.Ş., which is Turkey’s largest ski resort and the first mountain management company managed according to the Alps model, has become the first and only ski resort in Turkey to be a member of ICAR. Hamdi Elcuman, Chairman of the Board of Erciyes A.Ş., and Zafer Akşehirlioğlu, General Manager of Erciyes A.Ş., visited Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç in his office and presented the membership certificate to him. The Secretary General of the Metropolitan Municipality, Hüseyin Beyhan, was also present at the meeting.

ICAR has 141 Member Organizations from 60 Different Countries

Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç provided information about ICAR in his statement, saying, “ICAR, founded in 1948 and based in Kloten, Switzerland, has 141 member organizations from 60 different countries, and is known as a prestigious organization aimed at enhancing mountain rescue activities worldwide.”

Mayor Büyükkılıç emphasized that the Erciyes Ski Center, which has already been certified for its quality in facilities, ski slopes, management approach, and service quality, has now achieved great success by becoming a member of ICAR with its skills in mountain safety and rescue operations globally.

Underlining that this membership will elevate the security services of Erciyes Ski Center to international standards, Büyükkılıç stated, “It aims not only to provide a safe environment for skiing enthusiasts but also to increase the region’s attractiveness in terms of mountaineering and winter sports tourism. Furthermore, with this membership, Erciyes has become part of the international mountain rescue network and has elevated Turkey’s mountain safety standards to an international level through this cooperation.”

Presentation of “Erciyes” to European Members

Erciyes Ski Center was invited to the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) Congress held in Thessaloniki, Greece. Zafer Akşehirlioğlu, General Manager of Kayseri Erciyes A.Ş., made an important presentation about Erciyes Ski Center, providing detailed information to participants about its ski slopes, safety measures, and rescue activities, noting that this membership would contribute to Erciyes strengthening its position on the international stage and developing its security services in line with world standards.

During the ICAR Congress, Akşehirlioğlu emphasized the piste safety, technological infrastructure, and high standards applied in rescue operations of Erciyes Ski Center, stating that Erciyes stands out with its contributions to winter sports tourism in Turkey, particularly developing internationally recognized practices in mountain safety and piste safety.

After the presentation, as a result of the evaluation by European members and the board of directors, Erciyes became the first ski center in Turkey to be a member of ICAR by receiving the unanimous vote of all members.

ICAR President Franz Staempfli presented the membership certificate to Zafer Akşehirlioğlu, General Manager of Erciyes A.Ş.