Under Türkiye’s Presidency, preparations have begun for the 49th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which will be held in Istanbul in 2027.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy met with professor M. Öcal Oğuz, president of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO, to discuss preparations for the major gathering.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the preparation process for the 49th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has officially begun.
He also called for national and international media to be actively involved in the process to bring Türkiye’s cultural heritage and preservation efforts to a global audience.
During the meeting at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ersoy said the meeting would contribute to further strengthening international cooperation on implementing the World Heritage Convention and developing new approaches to protecting shared heritage.
The meeting covered the key aspects of preparations, including organization, transportation, communications and side events. Ersoy instructed officials to turn Türkiye’s hosting of the committee meeting into a major opportunity to promote the country.
Ersoy called for preparations to begin without delay and said the event’s technical and operational processes should be handled by professional teams with experience in the field. He also called for all aspects of the preparations to be coordinated under a single structure.
He said the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) would be included in the process to ensure preparations are completed professionally.
He said the necessary infrastructure for the meeting will be established and asked officials to review requirements from the UNESCO World Heritage Center and clearly identify what will be needed. He also said the event’s internet infrastructure and other technical systems should be prepared and made operational by professional teams.
Regarding the venue, Ersoy said Istanbul’s existing facilities could accommodate the necessary halls and meeting spaces. He also stressed the importance of establishing direct and rapid communication with UNESCO teams to ensure the preparations proceed smoothly.
Ersoy also placed particular emphasis on international media coverage, saying Türkiye should make strong use of the global attention generated by the World Heritage Committee meeting to promote the country.
In the meeting, he said preparations should go beyond the meeting itself and called for international media interest to be used to showcase Türkiye’s cultural heritage and said that promotional content and special events should highlight the country’s efforts and advances in protecting its heritage.
According to Ersoy, planning should begin without delay, particularly for transportation and organizational arrangements. He also stressed the importance of cooperation among institutions in planning transportation and movements for delegations attending the meeting in Istanbul.
A plan prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums calls for a consultation meeting with relevant institutions after the World Heritage Center sends the agreement and Statement of Requirements. A protocol outlining the division of responsibilities is also expected to be signed.
The task force overseeing preparations is expected to involve a broad organizational structure, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the TGA, the Foreign Ministry, the Istanbul Governorship, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO and other institutions.
One of the main priorities will be selecting a convention center that meets the infrastructure and capacity requirements set by the World Heritage Center.
Plans also include designing a website suited to the scale of the international event, establishing a registration and accreditation system and creating international broadcasting infrastructure to livestream the sessions.
Preparations are also expected to address security, waste management, environmental measures, emergency health and first-aid services, accessibility and access for people with disabilities, in line with requirements set by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Special World Heritage side events held alongside the committee meeting will form another key part of the preparations. The events are expected to give States Parties, UNESCO, advisory bodies, nongovernmental organizations, experts and other organizations an opportunity to present projects, share experiences and promote initiatives related to world heritage.
A special edition of UNESCO’s World Heritage magazine is planned for the meeting, featuring Türkiye’s sites inscribed on the World Heritage List. It is expected to be published in English, French and Turkish.
The World Heritage Map, one of the organization’s most popular promotional materials, is also planned to be published in English, French and Spanish, highlighting a World Heritage Site in Türkiye.
The meeting will include more than committee sessions. The program is expected to feature opening and closing ceremonies, musical performances, site and museum visits, and opera and ballet performances.
The session is also expected to include the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum and the World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum.
