ANKARA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- With the 2025 tourism season in full swing, travelers from around the world are flocking to the country's rich tapestry of ancient cities, sacred monuments, and UNESCO-listed treasures -- fueling a surge in cultural tourism that experts say could drive record-breaking visitor numbers this summer.

Türkiye generated 9.4 billion U.S. dollars from international tourism between January and March, marking a six percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to data issued by state statistics agency on April 30.

While sun-and-sea holidays remain popular, tourism professionals say cultural and heritage tourism is growing at a faster rate, driven by targeted marketing, site restoration, and global interest in ancient history.

"Türkiye is incredibly rich in historical assets, and the world is rediscovering that," said Kaan Sahinalp, Türkiye representative of German tourism company TUI.

"Sites like Ephesus, Troy, and Mount Nemrut are becoming top-tier destinations, not just add-ons to beach holidays," said the Ankara-based tourism expert.

One of the most visible symbols of this shift is Gobeklitepe, considered the world's oldest known Neolithic temple complex. Located near Sanliurfa in southeastern Türkiye, the site welcomed over 709,000 visitors in 2024 and the number is projected to exceed 1.5 million this year, according to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

"Tens of thousands of international travellers are flocking to Gobeklitepe each month and this is expected to increase," Sahinalp noted.

Türkiye is currently home to 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has 84 more on the tentative list, ranging from the Hittite capital of Hattusha in central Anatolia to the Seljuk-era Divrigi Great Mosque located in the Eastern Sivas province, which has seen a resurgence in visitors following extensive restoration.

Murat Toktas, a board member of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation, said the rise of heritage tourism is reshaping the country's tourism economy.

"Cultural tourism used to be secondary. Now, it's front and center," he told Xinhua. "Hotels near historical zones, even in previously overlooked inland regions, are reporting near-full capacity during peak months," he noted.

Toktas added that smaller, locally owned boutique hotels are benefitting most from this trend. "Guests want authenticity, to eat regional cuisine, to sleep in stone houses, to experience history where it happened," he said. "It's a powerful shift from the resort package model."

According to the UN World Tourism Organization, Türkiye attracted 56.7 million foreign tourists in 2024, rising to fourth place in the world in terms of international visitors, Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced on Tuesday on his X account.

The country has set an ambitious target of 65 million international arrivals and around 64 billion dollars in revenue for 2025, with cultural tourism expected to account for a growing share of that figure.

To support these goals, the government has increased funding for archaeological excavations, digital heritage projects, new museum construction, and cultural exhibitions.

An exhibition titled "Gobeklitepe: Enigma of a Sacred Place" that opened in Rome in October 2024 until March this year, narrating the history of the 11,000-year-old site, has drawn 5 million visitors, Ersoy said.

Events like the Culture Route Festival, now in its fourth year, are also connecting heritage sites across the country through performances, art installations, and culinary events.

In 2024, more than 6,800 events were held in 20 cities, showcasing around 45,000 artists and attracting large audiences, further establishing Türkiye as a destination for arts and culture tourism, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

"This kind of programming enriches the experience," Sahinalp said.

Türkiye has also launched last year the Night Museums project offering tourists the unique opportunity to explore ancient ruins after dark.

Still, experts caution that the tourism boom must be managed responsibly. "Carefully planned visitor flow and investment in infrastructure are essential," Sahinalp added. ■