ANKARA DECLARED 'TOURISM CAPITAL OF THE TURKIC WORLD'
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said, "Today, with the joint decision taken at the 10th Meeting of Tourism Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States, our capital Ankara has been declared the 'Tourism Capital of the Turkic World' for 2026."
The 10th Meeting of Tourism Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) started at a hotel in Ankara. The meeting was attended by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, heads of delegations of member and observer countries, and guests. Making the opening speech of the meeting, Minister Ersoy stated that the Turkic world, shaped around the common understanding of language, history, culture, and civilization, is becoming a more visible, more effective, and more holistic structure both regionally and globally. Ersoy stated that relations in the field of tourism with the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States have strengthened, saying, "In the first 5-month period of 2025, we hosted 317 thousand visitors from Azerbaijan, 203 thousand from Kazakhstan, 79 thousand from Kyrgyzstan, 215 thousand from Uzbekistan, 58 thousand from Hungary, 106 thousand from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and 70 thousand from Turkmenistan in our country. On this occasion, I would like to sincerely thank all our brotherly people and my esteemed colleagues for their great interest in Turkey," he said.
'WE AIM TO CARRY THE TRACES OF THE PAST TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE'
Minister Ersoy emphasized that various projects have been implemented in cultural heritage sites in order to enrich the visitor experience, saying, "This year, with the 'Night Museum' application between June 1 and October 1, 27 of our cultural heritage sites such as Hagia Sophia Mosque, Galata Tower, Ephesus, Mount Nemrut, and Zeugma Mosaic Museum will be open to visitors in the evening hours with special lighting. In addition, we are establishing digital experience museums, such as the examples of Hagia Sophia and Ephesus, to tell history to younger generations with digital content. Another new application is our 'Heritage for the Future' project. With this project, we have taken a very important step to protect our cultural heritage and pass it on to future generations in the best way possible. Within the scope of the project, we increase scientific efficiency by extending archaeological excavation works to the whole year, without limiting them to certain periods, and we unearth the remains that shed light on our history in a more systematic and sustainable way. In this way, we both contribute to the academic world and prepare the ground for the development of cultural tourism by supporting local development. With these meticulous efforts continuing all over Turkey, we aim to carry the traces of the past to the future with confidence," he said.
'OUR TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS IN 2024 IS 62.3 MILLION'
Stating that they have greatly accelerated the development of Turkish archeology, Ersoy said, "In the past months, we made an important discovery and unearthed the 47th Tumulus in Gordion, the capital of the Phrygian Civilization, located within the borders of our capital Ankara. This heritage site, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, is also an important opportunity to introduce the cultural depth of Ankara to the world public."
Minister Ersoy stated that they have also received the results of effectively protecting and promoting historical heritage and cultural richness internationally, saying, "According to the May 2025 World Tourism Barometer published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization; Turkey became the 4th most visited country in the world with 56.7 million foreign visitors in 2024. I am pleased to share this success with you, the esteemed representatives of the Organization of Turkic States. Turkey, which rose one step compared to the previous year and moved from 5th to 4th place, has maintained its steady rise in this field. Our total number of visitors in 2024 reached 62.3 million," he said.
'ANKARA HAS A HISTORICAL DEPTH'
Ersoy stated that the increasing cooperation of the Organization of Turkic States with its member countries, observer countries, and organizations in various fields has started to yield concrete results in tourism as well, saying, "Steps such as the creation of common tourism routes, visa facilities, and joint promotion of cultural heritage will make not only Turkey but also the entire Turkic world more visible and attractive. Ankara, located in the heart of Anatolia, has hosted many civilizations throughout history and has a historical depth extending from the Seljuks to the Ottomans and finally to the establishment of our Republic. Ankara, with its symbolic structures of the Republic such as Anıtkabir, the 1st Parliament and Ankara Palas, ancient structures from the Roman period, examples of traditional architecture, natural thermal beauties, and contemporary art centers, has a unique identity that blends the past and the future. Our capital is also an important center in terms of cultural diplomacy. It stands out by hosting events that carry the common values of not only Turkey but also the Turkic world. With its deep-rooted history, numerous thematic museums, and its structure where both traditional and modern art are kept alive together, it is a city that deserves to be discovered especially in terms of cultural tourism, with its cultural and art centers such as CSO Ada, which is one of the leading venues of Turkey's art life and was opened in 2020 with the presence of our President. In this regard, I would like to express my pleasure to declare Ankara as the 'Tourism Capital of the Turkic World' for 2026 within the Organization of Turkic States," he said.
Following Ersoy's speech, the 10th Meeting of Tourism Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) continued behind closed doors. Minister Ersoy, who shared the joint decision taken at the meeting on his social media account, announced that Ankara was declared the 'Tourism Capital of the Turkic World' for 2026. Ersoy said in his post, "This title suits our Ankara very well with its history, culture and spirit. Today, with the joint decision taken at the 10th Meeting of Tourism Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States, our capital Ankara has been declared the 'Tourism Capital of the Turkic World' for 2026. Ankara is one of our rare cities that reflects the common memory of the Turkic world with its rich heritage extending from Gordion to Anıtkabir, from the Roman Bath to CSO Ada Ankara, its museums, art institutions and cultural diversity. This ancient capital rising in the heart of Anatolia will now be the cultural and tourism showcase not only of Turkey but also of the Turkic world. Throughout 2026, we will discover Ankara together and continue to bring the values of our capital together with our sister nations."
