The 'Uzak Şehir' (Distant City) series, which is being filmed in the Midyat district of Mardin, where people of different religions, languages, and races live, has increased interest in the district. Mayor Veysi Şahin said, "The crowds are still continuing despite the end of the holiday. The 'Uzak Şehir' series, which is currently being filmed in our district, also has an impact on this."

The Midyat district, home to people of different religions, languages, and races, known as the 'Land of Religions and Languages,' became the focus of attention for local and foreign tourists during the 9-day holiday. The Turabdin region in the historical district, where the sounds of the call to prayer and church bells mingle and where Muslims, Syriacs, and Yazidis live together, is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. The district is considered one of the important tourism centers of the Southeast.

In the district, which was among the preferences of local and foreign tourists during the 9-day Ramadan holiday, the human density continues until late at night. Local and foreign tourists visiting the historical churches, mosques, and mansions in the district shopped at the silversmiths where Syriac filigree masters are located and at the local product bazaar, and immortalized their memories by photographing the places they visited. Among the visitors was Fuat Oktay, Chairman of the TBMM Foreign Affairs Committee. Oktay visited the city's historical and tourist sites. Governor Tuncay Akkoyun, Midyat District Governor Ömer Faruk Özdemir, Mayor Veysi Şahin, and AK Party District Chairman Atilla Yarış also accompanied Oktay.

'THE SERIES HAS AN IMPACT'

Midyat Mayor Veysi Şahin stated that the 'Uzak Şehir' series broadcast on Kanal D had an impact on the intensity of the number of tourists, saying, "A large influx of tourists has visited Midyat due to the holiday, and the crowd you see right now is still continuing despite the end of the holiday. We invite everyone to Midyat. My colleagues and I are pleased to host all our guests here. The 'Uzak Şehir' series, which is currently being filmed in our district, also has an impact. On this occasion, I would like to thank the producers and our fellow actors on behalf of the people of Midyat. The tourists who come here also visit them and the set and have their photos taken with them. On this occasion, I would like to thank them again for their contributions to Midyat. We encountered not only local tourists, but also tourists from Germany, Italy, and Sweden."

'A WONDERFUL CITY'

Fuat Oktay, Chairman of the TBMM Foreign Affairs Committee, who visited the district, stated that Midyat and Mardin have already achieved the environment and climate of peace, and said, "Mardin and Midyat are actually shouting this to the whole of Turkey, they are shouting this to the whole world. A city where peace and tranquility prevail and a culture of coexistence is formed in a world and a region where the world is groaning under oppression, where people of different faiths, different religions, and different ethnic structures cannot live together. Midyat gives a completely different civilization, that message to the whole world from here. In a process where we are trying to develop the environment of peace, the climate of peace, which we also express as 'Terror-Free Turkey,' we see that Midyat and Mardin have already achieved this. There is a wonderful atmosphere of peace, and there is an influx of over 3 million tourists during the holiday. Just to Midyat, and when you visit all the streets, a 3-thousand-year history, maybe a history that goes back further, but a wonderful city that reflects a magnificent culture right next to Mesopotamia, inside Mesopotamia, where Syriacs, Kurds, Turks, Arabs, and Yazidis all live together."

'I ATTRIBUTE THE INTENSITY TO THE SERIES AND FILMS BEING SHOT'

Tourism operator Nasrettin Yıldırım stated that the series and films shot in the district increased the interest, and said:

“I initially attribute this density to the series and films shot in Midyat, and also to the commercials. Because without them, no one knew this place. As soon as the film was shot and the commercial was given, our Midyat came to the forefront. It was good that it came out. Our tradesmen brothers here, other shops, all do business and earn their bread thanks to them. We are on a good path. For the last 3-4 days due to the crowds, there was no space anyway, it was so crowded you couldn't drop a pin. This was also very good for Midyat. In other words, there was no empty space left in Midyat, all the tradesmen worked double shifts, they did a good job. It was good. Silver, historical artifacts, local clothes, these kinds of things were sold a lot and yielded good results."

‘THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE SERIES WAS FILMED IS SEEING INTENSE INTEREST’

Tourism operator Mahmut Aykat, who stated that Narlı Neighborhood, where the Uzak Şehir series was filmed, is attracting attention from visitors, said, "The holiday went very well. I have been a tradesman here for 25 years, it has been increasing every holiday. So, we were not expecting this much density. I can really say that it broke the density record of all the years, and there must be statistics. The fact that these series and films are filmed here has a great contribution, especially in Mardin and Midyat. Everyone who comes asks about these mansions, they ask about these artists. Especially the latest series was filmed, Uzak Şehir. This 'Albora' is being filmed in Narlı village. I'm from that village too. It's very crowded, the entrances and exits of the village, the surroundings are really impassable with cars and people. This makes us happy. It also has a very nice reflection on trade. In other words, Mardin, Midyat has never seen such a density in its history and it is really well received, both the citizens are satisfied and those who come leave satisfied. This also makes us happy," he said.

‘I SAW THE PLACES WHERE THE SERIES WAS FILMED, I LOVED THEM’

Cansu Tunçdemir, who came to the city from Adana, said, "I was watching the Uzak Şehir series with great pleasure. I saw the places where it was filmed, the historical places here, the local clothes, everywhere, I loved it very much. Midyat is really very beautiful and I think it is a place where everyone can come. Midyat, especially Mardin, is a place they should come to at least once in their lives. I love it very much, I was very curious and I came and satisfied my curiosity. It's really a place everyone should come to. I recommend it to everyone," she said.

Elif Sude Gebeş, who came from Hatay, also said, "My holiday is going very well. We came from Hatay Belen with my family. We came here watching the Uzak Şehir series and we liked it very much. I think it's a place everyone should come and see. We liked a lot, we welcome everyone. I definitely liked it very much. It really gave us morale, it was a beautiful memory for us," she said.