Image generated with Ai

Istanbul, Türkiye, is preparing for a major rise in international travel activity as the 2nd Zero Waste Forum is scheduled to take place from June 5 to June 7, 2026, at Atatürk Airport. The global environmental gathering is expected to attract more than 5,000 delegates, including ministers, mayors, diplomats, environmental organisations, researchers, and policy leaders from approximately 180 countries.

The event is becoming one of the largest international conference tourism movements in Türkiye this year due to its role as a major preparatory platform ahead of the COP31 Climate Summit, which Türkiye will host later in 2026 in Antalya.

The growing scale of international participation is increasing passenger traffic into Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), while airlines, hotels, transport operators, and tourism businesses across the city prepare for a sharp increase in global arrivals.

Airlines Expand Istanbul Operations Ahead of Global Delegate Arrivals

Major international and regional airlines are increasing flight frequencies into Istanbul as diplomatic delegations and international observers finalize travel arrangements for the forum.

Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, and several Gulf and European carriers are expanding operations to accommodate rising passenger demand from Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.

The increase in aviation activity is particularly significant because many attendees are expected to combine the forum with broader diplomatic meetings, environmental conferences, tourism visits, and preparations linked to the upcoming COP31 summit in Antalya.

Istanbul Airport, one of the world’s busiest international aviation hubs, is expected to manage a substantial rise in transit and direct international passenger flows throughout the forum period. Sabiha Gökçen Airport is also preparing for additional regional traffic linked to short-haul diplomatic and institutional travel across Europe and neighboring regions.

Airlines are additionally increasing premium cabin availability, corporate travel services, and group booking operations as government officials and institutional delegations continue confirming attendance.

Istanbul Hospitality Sector Experiences Strong Conference Tourism Demand

The large-scale environmental gathering is significantly boosting conference tourism and hospitality demand across Istanbul. Hotels, convention centers, transportation providers, and tourism operators are preparing for increased occupancy rates during the June event period.

Luxury hotels near central Istanbul districts, including Taksim, Beşiktaş, Şişli, and the airport corridor, are witnessing strong booking activity from diplomatic delegations, environmental organizations, media representatives, and institutional participants.

Business tourism operators are also expanding airport transfer services, multilingual hospitality support, and conference-related travel packages to accommodate the large international visitor movement.

The forum’s location at Atatürk Airport is creating additional tourism activity across western Istanbul, with nearby hospitality businesses, restaurants, retail centers, and transportation services expecting increased visitor spending.

Conference tourism remains one of Türkiye’s fastest-growing travel segments, particularly in Istanbul, where international aviation connectivity and large-scale event infrastructure continue supporting major global gatherings.

COP31 Preparations Increase Türkiye’s International Tourism Visibility

The Zero Waste Forum is serving as an important international precursor to the COP31 Climate Summit scheduled to take place in Antalya later in 2026. Türkiye’s preparations for hosting the global climate summit are increasing the country’s international visibility within conference tourism, diplomatic travel, and sustainable tourism sectors.

The connection between the Istanbul forum and COP31 is encouraging additional travel planning by institutional delegates, environmental organizations, policy researchers, and global agencies expected to participate in both events.

Antalya is also expected to benefit from increased international attention as tourism authorities and aviation operators begin preparing for higher passenger volumes linked to COP31 later this year.

Several travel agencies and conference operators are already promoting combined Istanbul-Antalya itineraries targeting delegates interested in extending their stay for tourism, cultural travel, and business networking activities across Türkiye.

The forum is also contributing to Türkiye’s broader positioning as a destination for international events, sustainability conferences, and multilateral gatherings.

International Delegations Drive Increased Air Connectivity Across Europe and Gulf Markets

The scale of international participation is strengthening air connectivity between Türkiye and several global regions. Delegates arriving from Europe, Russia, the Gulf region, Africa, and Central Asia are contributing to rising international flight demand into Istanbul.

Airlines operating from Dubai, Doha, Frankfurt, London, Moscow, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Paris are among those expected to experience increased booking activity during the forum period.

Regional aviation analysts indicate that diplomatic and conference tourism events are becoming increasingly important drivers of premium international travel demand, particularly in destinations with strong aviation infrastructure such as Istanbul.

The event is also expected to generate additional transit passenger activity through Türkiye’s aviation network, especially for travelers connecting onward to Europe, Asia, and neighboring Middle Eastern markets.

Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Conferences Continue Expanding Globally

The growth of large-scale environmental conferences is becoming increasingly significant for global tourism and aviation industries. International sustainability forums now regularly generate major business travel demand involving governments, research institutions, climate organizations, universities, and corporate participants.

Türkiye’s hosting of both the Zero Waste Forum and COP31 is strengthening the country’s role within global sustainability dialogue while simultaneously expanding tourism, aviation, and conference industry activity.

The combination of diplomatic travel, environmental tourism initiatives, institutional events, and international business gatherings is also supporting long-term growth within Türkiye’s hospitality and transportation sectors.

Conclusion

Istanbul, Antalya, and Türkiye are experiencing rising international travel demand as the 2nd Zero Waste Forum 2026 attracts thousands of delegates from 180 countries ahead of the COP31 Climate Summit later this year. Increased airline frequencies by Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Lufthansa, Emirates, and other global carriers are supporting large-scale diplomatic and conference tourism activity, reinforcing Türkiye’s growing role as a leading international destination for global events, sustainable tourism, and aviation connectivity.