Final report on the press tour to Trabzon and Rize and discussions of future projects

On June 3, 2025, a meeting was held at the office of the Culture and Tourism Counselor of the Turkish Republic Embassy in Turkmenistan with media representatives participating in the press tour to Trabzon and Rize from May 12-16, 2025, under the TGA (Turkish Go Anywhere) program. As a rule, similar projects are initiated and implemented in cooperation with Mr. Mehmed Aşşa, Head of the Culture and Tourism Counselor at the Turkish Embassy, and Ms. Ozena, Director of Turkmen Airlines in Ashgabat. Participants shared impressions of the unforgettable journey and warm memories, discussed, and offered suggestions for future tours.

The main topic of this discussion was summarizing the results of the press tour, during which journalists actively shared their impressions of the tourist potential, and also provided an operational assessment of photo reports and video blogs. Special attention was paid to the role of the media in promoting inter-cultural dialogue, forming a positive image, and popularizing promising areas of Turkmen tourism. The presented materials were the result of not only professional journalistic work but also the personal immersion in the atmosphere of Turkish hospitality. The organizers of the event personally acknowledged the active work of journalists and expressed their sincere gratitude for the information support provided. Detailed publications on each observed object were thoroughly reviewed on the website www.aarhusashgabat.org. Numerous views, calls, and letters were received on the website, expressing gratitude for the information received regarding Turkish tourist trips to Trabzon and Rize. The organizers also expressed sincere gratitude to the media for their participation in these information and promotional activities of interest to a wide range of Turkmenistan residents and beyond. This gratitude is especially significant because it helped to prepare a detailed final report totaling 102 pages, including analytical reviews, visual materials, media publications, and interviews.This high-quality content serves as significant evidence of the effectiveness of the press tour and, as an organizer, will serve as a basis for expanding such programs in the future – in terms of the number of participants, and the geographical scope of locations visited. Suggestions for including new regions of Turkey and attracting wider media audiences were discussed. Participants emphasized that such joint efforts, supported by professionals in the media and Turkish Airlines, open up new prospects for developing cultural and tourist exchange between our countries.Furthermore, the central theme of the numerous discussions involved impressions of partnership with Turkish Airlines. It is impossible to overestimate the enormous contribution made by the airline, which enabled visits and exploration of various regions of Turkey. Being our national air carrier, Turkish Airlines played a key role in ensuring comfortable and unrestricted travel. With a pleasant smile, free internet access, and a desire to ensure maximum passenger comfort, the airline strives to ensure maximum passenger comfort. By taking over the organization of flights and comprehensive support for journalists, Turkish Airlines allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in exploring new places and effectively carry out our professional tasks. It is not for nothing that from April 1, 2025, the national carrier of Turkey increased the number of flights on the Istanbul-Ashgabat-Istanbul route from 11 to 14 per week, and from June 10 of this year it plans to increase them to 17 per week. This is an indicator of the demand for the services offered by Turkish Airlines in the air transportation of passengers, whose route network covers more than 300 destinations around the world, including direct flights from Ashgabat to Istanbul.At the end of the meeting, all participants agreed that such initiatives are necessary to maintain dialogue and mutual understanding. The press tour in Turkey was not just a trip, but a bridge connecting cultures and opening up new horizons for cooperation. We returned home with a wealth of knowledge, inspiration and, most importantly, with a firm intention to share all this with our audience.

Ayna Atayeva.