Erciyes Becomes the Only Ski Resort Representing Türkiye in Europe

Thanks to the municipality’s sports and tourism-oriented initiatives, Erciyes continues to move steadily toward becoming a globally recognized destination.

Erciyes Ski Resort participated in the “ACES Mountain Destination” meeting held in Folgaria, Italy, between May 22 and 24, 2026, representing Türkiye on an international platform.

The event, organized in collaboration with ACES Europe, the Alpe Cimbra Tourism Board, and the Municipality of Folgaria, brought together some of Europe’s leading mountain destinations. Representatives from Italy, Spain, Croatia, Albania, and Türkiye attended the gathering, where Erciyes Ski Resort stood out as the sole ski resort representing Türkiye.

The meeting focused on the role of sports in the sustainable development of mountainous regions. Key topics included sustainable tourism practices, four-season tourism strategies, the future of winter sports, accessible destinations, and international cooperation.

Representing Türkiye at the event, Kayseri once again demonstrated its international vision through the titles of “2024 European City of Sport” and “2029 World Sports Capital,” achievements realized through the initiatives led by Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç. During the program, participants were introduced to Erciyes’ sports infrastructure, modern facilities, sustainable destination management model, and year-round tourism approach. The resort’s opportunities for sports and nature tourism during the summer season were also highlighted, emphasizing that Erciyes is much more than a winter destination.

Zafer Akşehirlioğlu, Chairman of the Board of Kayseri Erciyes Inc., delivered a presentation outlining Erciyes’ tourism potential, world-class infrastructure and superstructure, position within the tourism market, ongoing investments, year-round sporting events, and destination management practices.

Akşehirlioğlu emphasized that, thanks to significant investments, Erciyes has evolved beyond being solely a winter sports center. Activities such as cycling, mountain running, high-altitude training camps, trekking, and various mountain and outdoor sports can now be enjoyed throughout all twelve months of the year. He noted that Erciyes has become one of Türkiye’s leading mountain tourism destinations and a location increasingly recognized and preferred on the international stage.

At the conclusion of the program, Zafer Akşehirlioğlu presented a plaque of appreciation to Vincenzo Lupatelli, President of ACES Italy, in recognition of his contributions to Erciyes.

Throughout the event, destination managers from different countries exchanged knowledge and experiences while also discussing potential future projects and opportunities for international cooperation.