Ankara
More than 3 million tourists visited historical sites in Turkey in the June-August era this year, while travel restrictions similar to the new coronavirus decreased.
This summer, domestic and foreign tourists liked to make a stopover in basically ancient sites than in museums due to the pandemic, according to data received through the Anadolu Agency of the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Six archaeological sites and 4 museums were the top destinations in Turkey this summer.
The ancient city of Hierápolis-Pamukkale is the most visited place with more than 230,000 visitors.
Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its mineral-rich hot springs and white travertine terraces in the Turkish province of Denizli in the Aegean.
In addition, the museum committed to the 13th-century Muslim mystical poet Mevlana Jalaluddin al-Rumi is the most visited place of the moment, and welcomes about 200,000 tourists.
The Mevlana Museum in Konya attracted a total of 3. 47 million domestic and foreign tourists last year, which fits the country’s second largest museum destination after The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
With the mix of its historic ruins, amazing beach and the beauty of herbs, the ancient Turkish city of Phaselis in Antalya’s Kemer district finished third in attracting tourists.
Other popular destinations include Olympos on the beach, the town of Antalya in southern Turkey, the Sumela Monastery in the Turkish Black Sea region and the ancient city of Ephesus in the picturesque Aegean region.
After February, Turkey postponed the tourist season until June and cancelled several occasions, such as fairs and exhibitions.
With the standardization procedure that began in June, tourist services in Turkey have reopened with strict measures to ensure the protection of tourists.
Last year, more than forty-five million foreigners entered Turkey, up from 39. 5 million in 2018.