EMITT, Steering Tourism with 482 Million Euros in Business Power, Prepares to Open Its Doors at Its New Venue in 2026

The established industry fair EMITT – East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition, organized by ICA Events, will open its doors for the 29th time at the Istanbul Expo Center on February 5–7, 2026.

ICA Events, the organizer behind over 50 international fairs and conferences covering all sectors of the economy and bringing together international companies and high-level regional representatives, is hosting the 29th EMITT – East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition, one of the tourism sector's most powerful gatherings. Taking place at the Istanbul Expo Center on February 5–7, 2026, the fair will connect new destinations and the latest tourism trends with industry professionals. With its established history as an indispensable meeting point for the world of tourism, EMITT once again proved its global strength in its last edition by hosting 656 participants from 39 countries and 23,725 visitors. This year, it again prepares to bring together professionals from around the world under one roof as a platform that generates business, creates lasting impressions, and adds value.

EMITT Fair Director Banu Keskin highlighted the importance of EMITT, which steers the tourism sector with its high ratio of international participants and visitors, strong B2B business environment, and commercial volume created at the renewed Istanbul Expo Center, stating: "We are moving EMITT's 29-year legacy to the Istanbul Expo Center this year with a strategic step. Our goal is not merely a change of venue; it is to offer industry professionals a much more accessible, central, and efficient trade platform. Last year, we proved our maturity by generating an average of 734 thousand Euros per participant and a total business volume exceeding 482 million Euros. In 2026, our goal is to focus not on quantity but on 'quality connections,' creating an ecosystem where every participant leaves with concrete business deals."

Generated over 482 million Euros in business volume for the tourism sector in 2025

Banu Keskin, noting that EMITT successfully concluded the previous edition with a total of 656 participants from 39 countries and offered new purchasing, business development, new business, and cooperation opportunities, continued her remarks: "Last year, 87% of participants finalized their meetings during the fair with orders and preliminary agreements. Furthermore, 89% of 2025 participants stated they plan to attend the fair again this year. Additionally, our fair, which generated a total business volume exceeding 482 million Euros—averaging 734 thousand Euros per participant—attracted intense interest from industry professionals and holiday consumers. Within the scope of the fair, a total of 8,000 orders and preliminary agreements were made, with an average of 12 business deals signed per participant. These figures clearly demonstrate EMITT's strategic importance in the sector and the strong interest it attracts."

"Our goal is to make EMITT a meeting point that generates business, is memorable, and creates value"

Emphasizing that the fair will shape the sector's 2026 roadmap with its high trade volume and strong B2B meetings, Banu Keskin said: "While EMITT offers its participants the opportunity to increase their business volume, it also brings together all industry players such as country pavilions, holiday and tourism destinations, hotels, health & sports tourism representatives, tour operators, and agencies. This year, accommodation, MICE, health tourism, travel agencies, tourism boards, public institutions, and transportation services will also be present at the fair. National participations from many countries, including Germany, UAE, China, Japan, Italy, Maldives, Egypt, and Seychelles, will take place. Our goal is to create higher-quality business matches and strengthen the fair's commercial value by increasing the number of international buyers and professional visitors. For us, impact is more important than numbers, and the right connections are more important than crowds. We want to make EMITT not just a fair to visit, but a meeting point that generates business, is memorable, and creates value."