He served as the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey between 29 August 2007 and 24 January 2013.

[2] He joined the AKP (Justice and Development Party) upon his objection to anti-democratic tendencies emerging prior to the elections in 2007.

[1] On 29 August 2007, Günay was appointed Minister of Culture and Tourism.

[3] Günay received an honorary PhD degree from Adıyaman University in 2009 for his contributions to the peace and freedom of thought, and other honorary PhD degrees in 2011 from Pamukkale in Denizli, Mustafa Kemal in Antakya and Akdeniz University in Antalya for the protection of cultural heritage and support for studies in archeology.

[1] Günay was awarded with Hungarian Order of Merit from the Hungarian Republic for improving bilateral cultural relations between the two countries, as well as the Grand Decoration of Honour In Gold With Sash by the Republic of Austria, the highest to be bestowed in Turkey.