Turkey's rapid museum expansion
Turkey's tourism sector is being galvanized by a museum boom as the government invests in promoting its Ottoman heritage.
In the first five months of this year, the number of foreign visitors to Turkey rose to 10.9 million, 4.8% more compared with the same period in 2013, according to data released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
A considerable increase in the number and diversity of restored and new museums across the country has been an important part of government’s strategy to contribute to Turkey’s image as a top tourist destination. Between 2000 and 2013, the number of overall visitors increased 335%, while the number of visitors to museums and historic sites increased 428.8%.
