Bursa Unveils Tourism Master Plan to Boost Visitors

Bursa Culture, Tourism and Promotion Association held its 2nd Ordinary Assembly Meeting for 2026, attended by Association President and Yıldırım Mayor Oktay Yılmaz and member municipal leaders. The meeting’s focal point was the city’s long‑awaited ‘Bursa Tourism Master Plan’, an upper‑scale strategy that will guide future public investments.

Prior to the assembly, a team of experts from Nevşehir Kapadokya University—Prof. Dr. Bilgehan Gülcan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halil Burak Sakal, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Avşin Ayhan and Research Assistant Fatıma Tüzzehra Albayrak—presented the scope of the master plan. The academic team will conduct field research and stakeholder consultations, a process expected to last about six months.

The resulting action plan will address a broad spectrum: cultural heritage, cuisine, İznik’s faith‑based tourism, thermal resources, year‑round utilization of Uludağ, transport and digital marketing. By analyzing successful Turkish city models, the strategic document will serve as the primary guide for all public‑sector tourism investments in Bursa from 2027 onward.

Mayor Oktay Yılmaz emphasized that the plan will fill a critical gap: “Our city boasts UNESCO’s Hasanlar District, Uludağ, thermal springs, world‑class gastronomy and İznik’s spiritual legacy. To make this wealth sustainable, increase our international competitiveness and spread tourism revenue across the city, we need a holistic, data‑driven roadmap. With the Tourism Master Plan we are addressing the biggest deficiency Bursa has felt for years. Together with the Metropolitan Municipality and all stakeholders, we will shape our tourism vision and steer strategic investments for 2027 and beyond.”