News and Announcements

2023 WAS THE BEST-EVER YEAR FOR AMERICAN AND WORLDWIDE TRAVEL TO TÜRKIYE

New York, NY (January 31, 2024): - In 2023, a record-breaking 1,334,337 Americans visited Türkiye, a whopping 32% increase over 2022. The 2023 total is an even more extraordinary 131%
increase over pre-Covid 2019. The statistics were announced today by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

A total of 56.7 million overseas tourists visited Türkiye in 2023, up 10% over 2022. The Ministry also stated that the country’s income derived from tourism rose 17% from 2022 to 2023 to $54.3 billion. Americans can reach Türkiye nonstop from thirteen U.S. cities. Turkish Airlines is the world’s fourth largest non-American airline; it flies to more countries than any airline on earth.
Istanbul, home to 16 million people, is the first stop for most American visitors. It is considered the largest city in Europe. Türkiye is famed for its combination of culture, art, antiquities, gastronomy, nightlife, shopping and adventure travel. Türkiye boasts an unprecedented number of historic and religious sites, dating from as long ago as the 10th century BCE. The country’s Turkaegean coastline attracts millions of vacationers annually, and Türkiye’s Sustainable Tourism Program was the world’s first to be recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism is currently overseeing 720 archeological research and restoration programs, a number expected to rise to 750 by the end of 2024.

 

İSTANBUL IS AMONG THE “50 BEST PLACES TO TRAVEL IN 2024”

New York, NY (January 15, 2024) İstanbul was included in Travel + Leisure's (T+L) "The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024" list and became a recommended travel destination for the following year.
The city's vibrant atmosphere and iconic landmarks give guests unforgettable experiences. The travel magazine T+L compiled "The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024" by showcasing destinations, cities, and experiences that captivate the attention of its editors and inspire them to plan their trips for the coming year.

The list, which covers lesser-known destinations and the world’s most popular tourist destinations like İstanbul, aims to inspire curious travellers to explore our world in new ways. Based on their personal experiences, more than twenty travel experts compiled a list of fifty destinations. The recommendations are grouped into the following categories: "For Cultural Immersion," "Foods and Drinks," "Big-City Thrills," "Moments on the Water," "Nature Lovers," "Beach Vibes," and
"Adventurous Travellers." İstanbul's modern texture, combining the past and present on two continents, has placed it as one of the top travel destinations in "The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024"'s "For Big-City Thrills" category.

The list, which covers lesser-known destinations and the world’s most popular tourist destinations like İstanbul, aims to inspire curious travellers to explore our world in new ways. Based on their
personal experiences, more than twenty travel experts compiled a list of fifty destinations. The recommendations are grouped into the following categories: "For Cultural Immersion," "Foods and Drinks," "Big-City Thrills," "Moments on the Water," "Nature Lovers," "Beach Vibes," and "Adventurous Travellers." İstanbul's modern texture, combining the past and present on two continents, has placed it as one of the top travel destinations in "The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024"'s "For Big-City Thrills" category.

İstanbul: The City of Luxury and Style in Türkiye
İstanbul, one of the world’s most famous cities offering numerous experiences, with its historical landmarks, architecture reflecting its multicultural structure, lively culture and art scene, amazing and unique tastes and a wide range of shopping alternatives, are described in detail in T + L’s article. While the article underlines that İstanbul was picked as the best city in Europe by T+L readers in 2023, it details why the beautiful metropolis should be visited, highlighting the allure of the city's revitalised Bosporus shore. The article also mentions İstanbul Modern, designed by the famous architect Renzo Piano with inspiration from the sparkling waters of the Bosporus, İstanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum, and The Peninsula İstanbul, all located in this region. While the article highlights İstanbul's luxurious accommodations and fine-dining experiences, it also underlines that it is the city of modernism, with its flashy hotels, modern art stops, Michelin Star restaurants, luxury, and diverse shopping experiences. İstanbul offers a multi-layered travel experience to travellers with its historical landmarks, lively social life, museums, art and cultural events, and unique gourmet eateries. İstanbul, Türkiye’s most dynamic and vibrant metropolis, has been included on travel lists in different categories in recent years, compiled by the world’s leading publications such as Conde Nast Traveller, Forbes and Time Out.

Download link for visuals: https://docs.tga.gov.tr/y0c8ihzx 

 

UNESCO DESIGNATES TWO ADDITIONAL WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN TÜRKIYE

 

New York, NY (October 31, 2023) Türkiye has been awarded two new additions to UNESCO's World Heritage list - the ancient city of Gordion and the Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia - as a part of UNESCO's 45th session of the World Heritage Committee. Türkiye now boasts a total of 21 unique sites recognized by UNESCO for their cultural and historical significance.

Gordion, The Ancient Home of King Midas

Gordion, southwest of Ankara, the capital of Türkiye, was the ancient kingdom of Phrygia’s political and cultural touchstone. Remains of the ancient city represent a rich tapestry of civilizations, bearing traces of settlements from as early as 2,500BC. With a strategic position along trade routes between the east and west, Gordion attracted many powerful leaders, including King Midas, the possessor of mythology's “golden touch.” Key elements of this site include the Citadel Mound, the Lower Town, the Outer Town, and several burial mounds, including The Great Tumulus, King Midas' final resting place. Archaeological excavations and research have revealed a wealth of remains that document antiquated construction techniques, defensive structures, and funeral practices that shed light on Phrygian culture and economy.

The Intricate Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia

The Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia are Türkiye’s first serial property registered on the World Heritage list. Built in the 13th and 14th centuries, the collection of five mosques is located across multiple provinces: Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque in Konya, Sivrihisar Ulu Mosque in Eskişehir, Kasabaköy Mahmut Bey Mosque in Kastamonu, Ahi Şerefeddin Mosque (or Arslanhane) in Ankara and Afyonkarahisar Ulu Mosque in Afyonkarahisar.
The hypostyle structures- defined as a brick or stone building containing multiple rows of wooden interior columns - utilize the kündekari technique, in which small pieces of wood cut in geometric shapes are joined to form engraving-like decorations called kalem işi. These historical mosques, well- preserved from the Middle Ages to today, reflect the history of Anatolian life and culture.

For more information on traveling to Türkiye, visit: https://goturkiye.com/