Turkish Museums Witness Surge in Visits as Müzekart Sales Skyrocket
- Özgür Töre
In a recent announcement from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Müzekart, priced at 60 lira after a reduction from 70 lira upon the directive of Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, has become indispensable for those embarking on a journey through Turkey's historical and cultural riches.
The card, which is valid at over 300 museums and ancient ruins under the Ministry's jurisdiction as well as the National Palaces under the Presidential mandate, saw sales reaching 2,151,988 in just 7 months. This move aims to facilitate easier access to Turkey's vast historical and cultural treasures.
The Müzekart offers unlimited access to these sites for a whole year, free for various professional and age groups. It achieved record sales in 2022, registering a massive 63% increase compared to the previous year, with a sale of 2,930,653 cards. With the sales this year already approaching the 2022 figures in the first 7 months, a new annual sales record is anticipated by year-end.
As for the most-visited sites, the Konya Mevlana Museum topped the list for the first 7 months of 2023, drawing in 1,664,437 visitors. Following close behind were the Izmir Ephesus Ancient City with 1,151,511 visitors, and the Denizli Hierapolis (Pamukkale) Ancient City with 1,149,843 visitors.
The Istanbul Galata Tower and Nevşehir Göreme Ancient City were also among the top attractions, hosting 749,950 and 528,030 visitors, respectively, during this period.
Turkey's push to make its historical and cultural assets more accessible is clearly reflected in the increasing visitor numbers and the soaring Müzekart sales, underscoring the country's rich heritage and its growing appeal to both domestic and international audiences. (AA)
