Prospects for developing mutual cooperation among representatives of the UTSR discussed

From 21 to 24 December, a meeting was held among representatives of the member states of the Union of Turkic Ski Resorts with the aim of expanding cooperation and strengthening mutual partnership relations.

The event took place at the Erciyes Ski Resort in Kayseri, Türkiye, and brought together representatives of leading ski resorts from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Within the framework of the meeting, participants discussed the Union’s key areas of activity, the development of joint projects for the organization of sports competitions, cultural and gastronomic events, and the deepening of cooperation in these fields. Particular attention was given to joint initiatives in marketing and promotion, the implementation of coordinated advertising and communication campaigns, the creation of common promotional mechanisms through digital platforms and social media, and the mutual promotion of winter tourism products. An exchange of views was held around various proposals.

Speaking at the event, Orkhan Badalov, Secretary General of the Union of Turkic Ski Resorts, informed participants about the Union’s strategic goals and plans for 2026. He noted that, in accordance with the Union’s events calendar for the coming year, the Second Turkic Ski Cup and the Union Forum will be organized, emphasizing that these initiatives will make a significant contribution to further strengthening sports, tourism, and cultural cooperation among member countries.

Expressing his great pleasure in hosting this cooperation platform that brings together ski resorts of the Turkic world, Zafer Akşehirlioğlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Erciyes Ski Resort, noted that such meetings not only expand the exchange of experience and knowledge among resorts, but also play an important role in promoting Türkiye’s winter tourism potential at the international level, establishing new partnerships, and increasing tourism flows among Turkic states.

As part of the visit, representatives of the Union met with Memduh Büyükkılıç, Mayor of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, as well as Şükrü Dursun, Director of Culture and Tourism of Kayseri, and Ergün Sezer, Chairman of the Anatolian Health Tourism Association.

During the meeting, Mayor Memduh Büyükkılıç emphasized that the shared history, cultural heritage, and values uniting the Turkic world are being further strengthened today through sectors such as tourism and sports. He noted that hosting representatives of brotherly countries in Kayseri and at Erciyes Ski Resort within the Union of Turkic Ski Resorts holds special significance for Türkiye, and that this platform serves not only cooperation in winter tourism, but also the development of mutual trust, solidarity, and joint projects aimed at a shared future among Turkic states.

Within the scope of the visit, Union representatives familiarized themselves closely with the tourism potential, existing infrastructure, and services of Erciyes Ski Resort. They also visited architectural monuments, museums, and historical sites reflecting the rich historical and cultural heritage of Kayseri, and experienced examples of the national cuisine.

It should be noted that the Turkic Ski Resorts Union currently includes Shahdag and Tufandag (Azerbaijan), Uludag, Erciyes, Ejder 3200 (Türkiye), Amirsoy (Uzbekistan), and Shymbulak and Oi-Qaragai (Kazakhstan) as members.