Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı announced that Göbeklitepe in Şanlıurfa has hosted 50% more visitors compared to the same period last year, stating, “With our promotional strategy, we reached 600,000 visitors at Göbeklitepe in the first 10 months of 2024.”
Speaking during his visit to the city, Yazgı emphasized that Göbeklitepe was one of the most important cultural tourism destinations in Turkey. He highlighted the growing global interest in this historical site and mentioned that the Ministry carried out special promotional efforts for Göbeklitepe every year.
Yazgı noted that the number of visitors to Göbeklitepe had been increasing exponentially and added:
“There is an incredible admiration for Göbeklitepe worldwide; everyone is curious about it. Renowned scientists have said that seeing Göbeklitepe in person is far more impactful than photos, and many are reluctant to leave the site because of its impressive atmosphere. These are very special sentiments. Thanks to our promotional strategy, we reached 600,000 visitors in the first 10 months of 2024. This represents approximately a 50% increase compared to the same period last year. We foresee a much greater increase in 2025. Together, we will witness the growing interest in Göbeklitepe as a visitor destination.”
6 Million Visitors Expected at the Exhibition in Italy
Yazgı also recalled that about a month ago, the exhibition titled “Göbeklitepe: The Mystery of a Sacred Place” had opened at the Colosseum, the iconic landmark of Rome, Italy.
He noted the special attention the exhibition was receiving and said:
“Our exhibition will remain open for six months, and we expect around 6 million visitors. The promotion of Göbeklitepe has resonated widely across the globe. We feature Göbeklitepe in our promotional films and television series. By exporting TV series globally, we’ve captured a unique atmosphere with Göbeklitepe imagery. Global interest has significantly increased. Hopefully, we’ll see even better days ahead.”
