A Journey Extending from Hoteliery to Publishing, from Publishing to Exhibition Organization: Selçuk Meral
Selçuk Meral, the owner of GM Tourism and Management Magazine and founder of the International Antalya Tourism Fair, was the guest of the 'Hayatın İçinden' (From Life) program, presented by Rıza Okur and broadcast on TRT Antalya. Meral shared GM's 21-year journey, the transformation in tourism, and his vision for the future.
A Success Story Extending from Publishing to Exhibition Organizing
Selçuk Meral, who entered tourism at the age of 16 and gained experience in various areas of the sector from hotel management to guiding, turned to publishing in his late 20s with the aim of making a lasting contribution to tourism. Explaining the establishment process of GM Tourism and Management Magazine, he summarized his founding philosophy with the words, “Our goal was to establish a platform where we could share our energy to develop rather than criticize.”
“Printed Publications Will Regain Value Like Vinyl Records”
Emphasizing that print publishing still holds significant value in an era of accelerating digitalization, Meral used the following expressions:
“Just as vinyl records made a comeback, print publications will too. We are strong across all digital platforms; however, the texture and value of the printed format never disappear.”
Solution-Oriented Despite Challenges
Stating that tourism publishing encompasses different challenges due to the sector's size and dynamism, Meral summarized his approach as follows:
“The challenges of being a tourism professional are separate from the challenges of being a publisher. When the two combine, the difficulties multiply. But we see producing and offering added value as a national duty.”
From a Two-Person Team to International Collaborations
Recalling the early years of GM Tourism and Management Magazine, Meral stated that he personally distributed the packages and that they progressed with a revenue-sharing model, describing their current position with these words:
“Publications that wouldn't give appointments in Europe yesterday now want to produce projects with us today. This shows that what we do is valued in the sector.”
“Turkey Should Be a Game Changer in Tourism”
Highlighting the potential of Turkish tourism, Meral emphasized the importance of collective intelligence, stating:
“Turkey can be a game changer in tourism, both in terms of knowledge and capacity. For this, a concerted effort is needed from hoteliers to tour operators and all stakeholders.”
Antalya Tourism Fair: An International Platform in 7 Years
Stating that the International Antalya Tourism Fair (ATF), established in 2019, has become the most productive tourism gathering in the Mediterranean today, Meral explained the fair's objective with these words:
“ATF takes place with participation from over 70 countries and more than 40,000 professional visitors. It has become a center where tourism professionals meet and collaborate. Our aim is to make Antalya the world's tourism meeting center.”
