Great interest in the ‘goKonya’ stand at the World Skal Congress

The Konya Metropolitan Municipality attracted great interest at the 83rd SKAL International World Congress with the theme of Çatalhöyük, which is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

The congress, held from October 19-21, was attended by 350 tourism professionals from 35 countries. At the event, representatives from different sectors of the tourism industry, such as hotels, travel agencies, tour operators, and airlines, shared information and experiences about developments in sustainable tourism.

Intense interest in the ‘goKonya’ stand
The Çatalhöyük-themed goKonya stand drew attention by highlighting Konya’s cultural and tourist riches, local gastronomy, and the emphasis on “Bicycle City Konya”. Local and foreign participants had the opportunity to closely learn about Konya’s historical and cultural values, while also being informed about the historical experiences offered by the Çatalhöyük Promotion and Reception Center.

One of the highlights of the congress was the visit of SKAL presidents to the goKonya stand. The visitors expressed their appreciation for Konya’s efforts to preserve its cultural heritage and the work done to promote Çatalhöyük, stating that the themes and content presented at the stand were impressive. These presentations were considered an important step in reaching a wider audience for Konya’s tourism potential.

Konya’s history and culture centers were promoted at the congress
During the congress, information was also provided about other important centers to promote Konya’s historical and cultural heritage:

Darülmülk Exhibition Palace: Located in Konya, which served as the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk State for about 200 years, this palace displays statues created from DNA and anatomy analyses of Seljuk dynasty members. Visitors can obtain detailed information using QR codes in front of the statues. Additionally, animations of historical battles that enabled the Turks to settle in Anatolia are presented to the visitors.

Stone Building Promotion Center: Built in 1917, this building has been restored and opened to visitors under the name “Stone Building,” promoting Konya’s cultural, geographical, economic, and historical riches in technology-supported experience areas.

Warehouse No: 4: This building, which was used as a Tobacco Warehouse in the early years of the Republic, was restored in 2023 and converted into an art gallery. The “City of Civilization” exhibition showcases various works that combine art and technology, aiming to reveal the hidden heritage of Turkish-Islamic history.

Panorama Konya Museum: The museum, which features models of Mevlevi lodges from Turkey and around the world, provides information about the city’s culture through an area depicting 13th-century Konya and the “Bir Bilenle” application. The application offers detailed content in Turkish, English, and Arabic.

A technology-supported historical journey at Çatalhöyük
The Çatalhöyük Promotion and Reception Center offers visitors a historical journey illuminating 9,000 years ago. The center showcases replicas of findings from excavations and the ancient settlement layout, allowing visitors to witness the social and cultural life of that period with Turkish and English audio narrations.

International participants decided to visit Konya
Significant participants from abroad decided to visit Konya after seeing the stand at the organization. Skal International 2025 World President Denise Scrafton said, “I have never been to Konya before, but I really want to visit. I received information related to Konya’s past at this stand. I watched a whirling dervishes performance at the previous event held in Antalya. I want to come to Konya as soon as possible to see this in person.” Skal International Germany Düsseldorf President Eckhard Mischke stated, “I am aware of Konya’s cultural heritage, and I am very excited to know Konya. Germans come combining many types of tourism; Konya is one of the preferred ones. It is an interesting place, and this aspect can be utilized to attract tourists. The subject of faith tourism in Konya is noteworthy.” Skal International Izmir President Güner Güney also remarked, “As we all know, Konya is rapidly advancing on the path to becoming Turkey’s star. Since the beginning of our congress, we have done a wonderful job with the Konya stand and Konya Metropolitan Municipality. Some of our international participants have also said that they will visit Konya in the coming days. This also made us very happy.”