Within the scope of the InTechGrowth (ITG) Project, supported by the European Union Erasmus+ Program and led by the Adana Tourism Association (ATGAB) and the Kharkiv IT Cluster from Ukraine, with the partnership of 9 institutions from 7 different countries, Turkish and Ukrainian young people and aspiring entrepreneurs came together in Adana.

Location: Adana Metropolitan Municipality Assembly Hall

Date: August 24, 2026

A total of 52 young aspiring entrepreneurs, 16 from Ukraine and 36 from Turkey, participated in the seminar held on Ukraine’s Independence Day. The program included sharing information and experiences on entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and international cooperation.

The event, which aligns with the Erasmus+ Program’s priorities of digital transformation, inclusivity and diversity, democratic participation, and international cooperation, enabled young people to get to know the next-generation entrepreneurship ecosystem, improve their digital skills, and connect with peers from different countries. The program began with the recitation of the Turkish and Ukrainian national anthems. This was followed by an acrobatic performance highlighting cultural exchange and solidarity, featuring young people from Samar, Ukraine, visiting Adana

• İrem Tarı, President of the Adana-Ukraine Friendship, Culture, Education, Aid and Solidarity Association, delivered a speech on the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day, wishing the Ukrainian people peace and prosperity.
• Bayram Şirin, President of the Adana Tourism Association (ATGAB), drew attention to the strong bonds of friendship between Turkey and Ukraine, expressing his pleasure at hosting the Ukrainian youth in Adana.
• Ömer Faruk Bostancı, ATGAB Project Specialist, gave a presentation titled “New Generation Entrepreneurship and the ITG Project,” informing the young people about the new generation entrepreneurship ecosystem, project goals, and opportunities available to them.
• Tetiana Botsian, Project Specialist at the Kharkiv IT Cluster, gave a presentation via online link, providing information about the ITG Project Incubation (Startup Acceleration) Program and explaining the support mechanisms for young people to develop their entrepreneurial ideas.

Today in Adana, not only was a seminar held; an international learning and sharing environment was created that develops the digital and entrepreneurial skills of young people, brings different cultures together, and builds new bridges of cooperation between Turkey and Ukraine.

Young people are learning, producing in the digital world, and establishing collaborations across borders.We thank all the young entrepreneurs who contributed to the program, our valuable speakers, project partners, and stakeholders.

Together we learn, together we produce, together we grow the ventures of the future!

Note: This seminar is funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the relevant institutions and may not reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The European Union or EACEA cannot be held responsible for them.

#InTechGrowthProject #Erasmus+ #EUinTürkiye #AdanaTourismBirliği #KharkivITCluster

Presentation 1: New Generation Entrepreneurship and the ITG Project

• Ömer Faruk Bostancı – ATGAB Project Specialist

Presentation 2: ITG Project Incubation (Startup Acceleration) Program

• Tetiana Botsian – KHARKIV IT Project Specialist

Within the scope of the InTechGrowth (ITG) Project, supported by the European Union (EU) Erasmus+ Program and in which the Adana Tourism Association (ATGAB) is a partner, an entrepreneurship-themed seminar will be organized with Ukrainian and Turkish participants.

*Due to limited capacity, it is important for local participants to fill out the application form below.

Date: Monday, August 24, 2026

Location: Adana Metropolitan Municipality Assembly Hall (Glass Building, 9th Floor)

Time: 13:30 to 16:00

*Application is free and there are no requirements (education, age, etc.).

Participant application form: https://forms.gle/k4sHjkpawJkGCxux5

About the Project

The overall aim of the ITG project is to support the active participation of young people under 35 in the technology-focused entrepreneurship ecosystem and to create a sustainable learning and collaboration environment that will strengthen the entrepreneurial, innovative, and digital skills they need in the processes of establishing and developing technology-based ventures.

The project consortium, established under the leadership of the Poland-based HEKET Entrepreneurship Foundation (HEKET), includes participants from Portugal, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Turkey.

In the project, which includes 3 partners from Turkey; Adana Tourism Development and Infrastructure Services Association and Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University are project partners, while the Ministry of Youth and Sports is a participating entity.

The Adana Tourism Association aims to support young people with innovative business ideas in the tourism sectors of our region and to bring digitally based and environmentally friendly new business models to Adana Tourism.

*Note: Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

 

The 1st Extraordinary Assembly Meeting of the Adana Tourism Development and Infrastructure Association (ATGAB) was successfully completed with a high level of participation, chaired by our Association President, Mr. Bayram ŞİRİN, in the Adana Metropolitan Municipality Assembly Hall. During the meeting, strategic steps were taken to further strengthen ATGAB’s institutional structure, and vital decisions were made to maximize Adana’s tourism potential and give the city momentum. Following the meeting, our Association President, Bayram ŞİRİN, made the following statement:
“These steps, taken with common sense and determination, strengthen Adana’s tourism infrastructure and bring us one step closer to our goal of making our city a center of attraction on the national and international stage.”
We wish that the decisions unanimously adopted at the meeting will be beneficial to our association, our stakeholders, and our beautiful Adana; and we thank all the assembly members who participated.

Bayram Şirin was officially elected as the president of the Adana Tourism Association (ATGAB) with the full support of the members at the Ordinary Assembly Meeting held on May 13, 2026, in the Adana Metropolitan Municipality Assembly Hall.

Following the election, Bayram Şirin, a member of the Adana Metropolitan Municipality Assembly, a member of the Seyhan Municipality Assembly, and a tourism business owner, who had previously served as acting president, was elected as the president of the association on a permanent basis.

Known for his work in the tourism sector, Şirin is expected to focus on projects aimed at more strongly promoting Adana’s cultural, gastronomic, and historical values.

In a statement made after the election, Bayram Şirin thanked the members for their trust in him.

Stating that they will work together in unity to further advance Adana’s tourism potential, Bayram Şirin said that they aim to increase the city’s tourism strength through joint projects.

 

Adana Tourism Development and Infrastructure Services Union (ATGAB) and Adana Metropolitan Municipality successfully represented Adana at the Colors of the World Fair held at Kadir Topbaş Show and Art Center between April 18-20, 2025.

The Adana stand opened at the international fair, which hosted participants from 20 different countries, attracted great interest from visitors. At the stand established in cooperation with ATGAB and Adana Metropolitan Municipality, flavors from Adana’s unique culinary culture were served and city-specific promotional materials were presented to visitors.

Making statements at the fair, ATGAB Union Manager Selçuk MAMAK said, “Adana has the potential to become a world tourism city with its history, nature, gastronomy and cultural heritage. We attach great importance to such events in order to brand our city in tourism and make our city more visible on international platforms.”

While Adana’s strong tourism vision and riches were successfully introduced to fair visitors, new collaborations and promotional opportunities were also opened for the city.

Within the scope of the project titled “SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND CITTASLOW POTENTIAL ANALYSIS IN ADANA RURAL AREA” prepared by Adana Tourism Development and Infrastructure Service Union and supported within the scope of Çukurova Development Agency (ÇKA) Technical Support Program, Cittaslow (Calm City) Information and Awareness Meeting was held in ÇKA meeting hall.

In the face-to-face meeting attended by ATGAB and ÇKA project experts as well as representatives from 9 rural districts of Adana (Aladağ, Feke, İmamoğlu, Karaisalı, Karataş, Pozantı, Saimbeyli, Tufanbeyli and Yumurtalık), project advisor Ankara University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Can Umut ÇİNER provided information regarding the criteria for joining the Cittaslow network.

Antalya Metropolitan Municipality External Relations Department Head Zeynep Tuğçe Çiftçibaşı Güç, who also attended the meeting online, provided information about the Cittaslow network participation process.

Saimbeyli Mayor Mahmut DAL, Feke Mayor Cömert ÖZEN and Yumurtalık Mayor Erdinç ALTIOK We would like to thank the participating district personnel.

#cittaslow #cittaslowadana #sustainabletourism #ruraltourism #adanaturismunion #cukurovakalkinmajansi #aladagmunicipality #fekemunicipality #imamoglumunicipality #karaisalimunicipality #karatasmunicipality #pozantimunicipality #saimbeylimunicipality #tufanbeylimunicipality #yumurtalıkmunicipality,

Within the scope of the project titled “SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND CITTASLOW POTENTIAL ANALYSIS IN ADANA RURAL AREA” prepared by Adana Tourism Development and Infrastructure Service Union and supported within the scope of Çukurova Development Agency Technical Support Program, in the first 2 days of the field work, study visits were made to Yumurtalık and Karataş Karaisalı and Pozantı municipalities.

We would like to thank the mayors and colleagues for their cooperation.

#cittaslow #cittaslowadana #sustainabletourism #ruraltourism #adanaturizmbirligi #cukurovakalkinmajansi #karaisalibelediyesi #karatasbelediyesi #pozantibelediyesi #yumurtalıkbelediyesi

In line with the directives of our Union President Zeydan KARALAR, we continue our project work at national and international levels without slowing down with the vision of making Adana a brand city in tourism.

The first meeting was held online within the scope of the project titled “SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND CITTASLOW POTENTIAL ANALYSIS IN ADANA RURAL AREA” prepared by Adana Tourism Development and Infrastructure Service Union and the contract of which was signed within the scope of Çukurova Development Agency 2024 Technical Support Program.

In the meeting attended by ATGAB and ÇKA representatives as well as representatives from 9 rural districts of Adana (Aladağ, Feke, İmamoğlu, Karaisalı, Karataş, Pozantı, Saimbeyli, Tufanbeyli and Yumurtalık), the project advisor Ankara University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Can Umut ÇİNER provided information about the criteria for participation in the Cittaslow network. Field studies and training activities will be detailed in the next meeting.

The basic philosophy of Cittaslow is to support local development and the concept of being a slow city in many areas from tourism to urban planning, from environmental sustainability to social harmony. Slow tourism, which is gaining importance day by day, is an alternative tourism choice as opposed to mass tourism. Slow tourism, unlike mainstream tourism, is a part of the sustainable tourism family and emphasizes the tourist’s greater personal awareness. In this respect, Adana rural districts have significant potential.

In line with the directives of our Union President Zeydan KARALAR, we continue our project work in the national and international arena without slowing down with the vision of making Adana a brand city in tourism.

The kick-off meetings for the “In Tech Growth (ITG)” project, which is a partner of ATGAB-Adana Tourism Development and Infrastructure Service Union and supported within the scope of the European Union Erasmus+ program, were held in Krakow, Poland, in a hybrid format on February 25-26 under the leadership of the host institution Heket Foundation.

The ITG project, which was developed in partnership with 9 youth worker institutions from 7 different countries and aims to develop capacity for 60 young people in technology-based entrepreneurship, will be supported by the European Union between 2025-2026 within the scope of the Erasmus+ program.

Our Union will continue to support the new generation entrepreneurs who will breathe life into Adana and the country’s tourism.

#ErasmusProgramme #EuropeanYouth #EuropeanCommission #EuropeanUnion

#HeketFoundation #ATGAB #adanaturizmbirligi01

 

 

”TOURISM CITY ADANA” IDEA AND PROJECT COMPETITION RESULTS ANNOUNCED

In line with the directives of our Union President Zeydan KARALAR, the “Tourism City Adana Idea and Project Competition” organized by Adana Tourism Union with the vision of making Adana a brand city in tourism, in cooperation with Adana Metropolitan Municipality, Adana Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Çukurova University and Çukurova Development Agency, ended with an award ceremony on December 20, 2024 at Seyhan Municipality Yaşar Kemal Culture Center.

87 project applications were submitted to the competition. 48 projects were entitled to receive genuine online project management cycle training by the pre-evaluation board. 13 finalists who prepared their presentations according to the project template after the training were entitled to participate in the project exhibition.

Following the project exhibition that started with project presentations, certificates of appreciation were presented to all competitors and jury members. After the evaluation, the project owners who ranked in the top 5 were determined by the competition jury. The winners and their projects:
1. Dilek ALASIRT (30,000 TRY): Discovery Adana Application
2. Cem AKAN (20,000 TRY): Adana Augmented Reality from Past to Future
3. İlknur ALASIRT (10,000 TRY): Flora and Fauna Tourism Network
4. Hasan Berkay ASLAN (5,000 TRY): YenidenMagarsus (Experimental Gastronomy)
5. Sabiha Ezgi DAVULCU (5,000 TRY): Rural Development with Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Citrus Oil Production

After the competition, the winners were presented with their prize checks.

In his closing speech, the Vice President of the Union Bayram ŞİRİN said: “First of all, I would like to thank everyone who worked hard in the preparation and our entrepreneurs who participated in our competition with their idea projects. This is a new and important competition for Adana. I congratulate our competitors who won, I was happy that they were all young. It was also nice that the number of female finalists was higher than the number of male finalists. I consider it an important step to make Adana one of Turkey’s leading tourism centers. I believe that we will further strengthen our city’s tourism potential with efforts such as the Tourism City Adana competition. ” he said.

The program ended with a group photo after the award ceremony.