British Archaeologist Prof. Hodder Attends Tourism Meetings in Konya

The Tourism Meetings, organized in collaboration with Konya Metropolitan Municipality and SKAL International Konya, bring together prominent figures in the tourism industry.

The third edition of the Tourism Meetings, held under the theme “Those Who Leave a Mark on Konya’s Tourism,” featured British archaeologist Prof. Dr. Ian Hodder, who led the excavations of Çatalhöyük — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — for 25 years.

Speaking at the opening of the event held at the Taş Bina Culture and Art Center, SKAL International Konya Branch President Fatih İşkin said, “Çatalhöyük is the shining star of Konya. In recent years, it has gained great visibility through extensive promotional efforts and participation in fairs. We wanted to host our esteemed professor, who dedicated 25 years of his life to the excavations and played a key role in bringing Çatalhöyük to light. This is our way of showing gratitude to him.”

Ahmet Bilgiç, Head of the Press, Publication and Public Relations Department of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, stated that although Çatalhöyük has always been significant, it has recently become even more important for Konya. He said, “We have placed Çatalhöyük at the center of our destination marketing efforts. In 2026, we will work to highlight Çatalhöyük as Konya’s main brand value. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to SKAL for their collaboration.”

Taking the floor afterward, Prof. Dr. Ian Hodder began his speech in Turkish, expressing his happiness to be in Konya once again and stating that he loves the city very much.

In his speech, where he discussed the purpose and significance of the excavation project, Hodder emphasized that one of his main goals was to build a foundation that would contribute to the development of tourism in Konya. He also expressed his satisfaction with the recently opened Çatalhöyük Promotion and Visitor Center established by Konya Metropolitan Municipality, describing it as an excellent example of how a state-of-the-art and modern exhibition should be.

Prof. Dr. Hodder, who shared the history of Çatalhöyük — a site with a history of nearly 10,000 years — and its excavations, noted that the people of Çatalhöyük were an advanced society in terms of art. He also expressed his gratitude to Konya Metropolitan Municipality for its support of their work.

The programs organized by Konya Metropolitan Municipality as part of the Tourism Meetings will continue in the coming period with new topics and distinguished guests.