Teknofest Istanbul to draw a million visitors

Duvar English / ISTANBUL

Istanbul's former main international airport, Atatürk Airport is hosting global tech giants for Teknofest Istanbul, the Turkish technology and aerospace fair, a six-day festival, co-organized by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation and the Industry and Technology Ministry.

The fair started on September 17, 2019 and will last until September 22, 2019. U.S.-based tech giants Google and Microsoft, Korea’s Samsung, and Russian aviation firm United Aircraft are attracting throngs of visitors.

According to Anadolu Agency, visitors to the festival, including students of all ages, are flocking to take part in tech company activities to experience augmented reality, coding, and digital technologies.

Microsoft, with the support of development-based Turkish NGO Habitat, gave gamers a chance to try their hand at coding using the popular computer game Minecraft.

Visitors also took advantage of Google's programs Digital Garage and Developers.

Samsung gave the public a trial run at cutting-edge technologies, including smart home systems and virtual reality equipment.

Teknofest Istanbul

The festival boasts a host of activities such as aviation shows, seminars, workshops, drone championship, contests, and concerts.

Last year’s premier festival, hosted by the new Istanbul Airport, was visited by over half a million people, Anadolu Agency reported. This year, it is expected to double attendance, attracting a million visitors.

Italian drone pilot Lusia Rizza is among the participants of the World Drone Cup, organized in Teknofest Istanbul, in Istanbul, Turkey on September 18, 2019. The World Drone Cup is gathering 64 top-level pilots from 37 countries.