Turkey’s southeastern Diyarbakır province has set its sights on becoming the regional champion of tourism, appealing to both domestic and international tourists through its history, culture and gastronomy.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA), Governor Munir Karaloğlu said Diyarbakır had always been one of the focal points of history, noting that it possessed countless historical artifacts. Still, the city has failed to draw in the number of visitors it deserves so far – a trend that will change drastically soon.
“Diyarbakır is an ancient city with a strong history, culture and gastronomy,” he said but warned this does not directly equate to direct tourist interest as local and regional touristic values had to be included in a full package benefitting both the visitors and employees in the tourism sector.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected tourism across the world, the governor believes the future is bright for Diyarbakır as the state authorities used the pandemic period to continue renovations and advertising.
The touristic development of Diyarbakır is also expected to trigger an increase in the count of visitors to other southeastern cities such as Mardin and Şanlıurfa, known as the “golden trio of upper Mesopotamia” along with Diyarbakır. The governor argued that tourists would flock to the region, not just Diyarbakır, if advertised enough as it is home to an array of historical and cultural assets.
