THE sixth annual tourism investment summit for Didim will be held on October 10, it has been announced.

The summit, which will bring key tourism operators together, will be held at the Chamber of Commerce building, opposite Didim’s Tesco Kipa store.

At a press conference ahead of the summit, Chamber president Şaban Üstündağ said: “Didim is open to natural and historical beauties. It is open to investment plans for the future of tourism.

“To draw attention to investment opportunities in our district and the country’s tourism district, we have created a platform to realize those Tourism Investment aims.”

The one-day summit is being supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with senior ministry officials set to attend.

He said: “Officials will be attending and will receive and give feedback to those attending on the development of tourism in the country.”

He urged those that had a stake in tourism in Didim to come forward to participate in the conference.

The programme schedule is as follows:

Friday October 10: Didim Chamber of Commerce Cultural Center

10am-11am: Opening speeches from Didim Chamber of Commerce Chairman Saban Üstündağ, Didim Mayor Deniz Atabay, Didim governor İskender Yönden; TURSAB chairman Başaran Ulusoy; Aydin Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu and Aydın Governor Erol Ayyıldız

11am-1pm: Panel member discussion in the promotion of Didim. Panelists will include Turkey’s TUI representative Hüseyin Baraner, Ministry of Culture and Tourism promotions manager İrfan Önal and Hikmet Atilla, Didim’s TÜRSAB member

1pm-2pm: Lunch

2pm-2.10pm:  Presentation of Didim’s tourism potential from Nuri Aktakka, Aydin’s Provincial Culture and Tourism Director

2.10pm-4pm: Panel discussion on alternative markets and investments, with representatives from the local tourism and hospitality sector.