While the mayors of sister cities from 9 countries attended the opening of the festival, Alanya District Governor Hulusi Doğan, Alanya Mayor Hasan Sipahioğlu, and Antalya Deputy Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also attended.
The declaration of the Festival as the Year of Lithuania
Alanya Mayor Hasan Sipahioğlu stated in his announcement that participation in the festival increases slightly with each passing year. Noting that the festival, the first of which was held 9 years ago, has reached an international dimension today, Sipahioğlu recorded that delegations and performance troupes from many countries are participating in the festival. Sipahioğlu said, ''The festival is celebrated in a festival atmosphere, especially in recent years. The festivals, which provide an important social activity in the district, also positively affect commercial life.'' Sipahioğlu reported that more than 100 activities would be carried out within the framework of the festival. Following the opening ceremony held at the Alanya Cultural Center, the speeches of Trakai Sister City Mayor Vincas Kapicius and Alanya Mayor Hasan Sipahioğlu due to the celebration of this year as the year of Lithuania, the photography exhibition, and the opening of Pınar Kaptanoğlu's jewelry exhibition, folk dance groups from Greece, Romania, Lithuania, and Georgia, as well as Turkey, presented performances. Schools, hotels, animation teams from entertainment venues, and representatives of non-governmental organizations participated in the festival parade. The convoy, moving accompanied by a marching band from in front of the AKM, passed through Atatürk Avenue and walked as far as the area in front of the waterfall in the Pier Area. Teams from Greece, Romania, Lithuania, Rhodes, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria also took part in the parade. Following the parade, stands set up in the Pier Area were opened to visitors. While the 9th Alanya Tourism and Art Festival, which continued with a concert by Sıla at 22:00 behind the City Hall following the activities held in front of the waterfall, received intense interest from the public, Alanyalılar attending the concert experienced enthusiastic moments with Sıla's songs.