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Taxi drivers in Ankara are getting ready for the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit on July 7-8 by stepping up service standards and preparing small hospitality gestures for foreign visitors arriving in the Turkish capital.
As part of the preparations, drivers are expected to wear gray trousers and white shirts, while taxis serving key summit areas will offer Turkish delight, kolonya and cold water to guests.
Kolonya, a traditional Turkish cologne commonly offered to visitors, will be presented as part of a wider effort to reflect local hospitality.
Mehmet Yiginer, head of the Türkiye Federation of Drivers and Automobilists, said taxi drivers would be among the first people many foreign guests meet after leaving the airport, making their role important for both transport and the city’s image.
Yiginer said preparations were being carried out with this responsibility in mind, adding that vehicles would be kept clean and drivers would focus on presenting Ankara in the best possible way.
"NATO Summit's being in our country excited us. We are continuing our preparations to provide the best service to guests coming to Ankara, especially from abroad, for this very important meeting," he said.
Yiginer noted that a "red zone" system would be in place around airports, summit venues, protocol routes and areas where delegations are expected to stay. The term refers to restricted or controlled areas linked to security and official movement during the summit.
He called on taxi drivers to follow the instructions of security units and official authorities carefully throughout the event.
Yiginer said the main aim was to welcome guests in a way that suited the capital and reflected Türkiye’s hospitality.
He added that courtesy, a smiling attitude and a professional approach toward foreign visitors would matter not only for the taxi profession but also for the country’s image.
Yiginer said he believed Ankara and Türkiye would be represented in the best way through a sense of hospitality worthy of the capital.
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