A new breath in tourism: The Mosaic Road

I was at the southern province of Hatay this weekend for a comprehensive event organized by the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜS?AD). Hatay, which has a population of 1.5 million, is now hosting 500,000 refugees. 

Hatay is the second province after Istanbul in the logistics sector and is the export champion of fresh fruit and vegetables. Hatay economy has been hit heavily due to the war in Syria. 

While around 220,000 tourists visited Hatay in 2010, this figure is only around 50,000 today. 

Just like Mardin and Diyarbak?r, this province has succeeded in reaching a certain point in tourism through hard work in various projects. 

The fame of Antakya Chorus of Civilization, which expresses the peaceful cohabitation of people of different religions and ethnicities for centuries, with music, has spread across the borders. They are preparing for a concert in Washington in April. 

An investor from Antakya, Necmi Asfuro?lu, is spending $100 million for a "museum-hotel," second of its kind in the world, under the Hilton brand. It is being built on ancient Roman ruins. Spectacular mosaics are also included in the ruins of an apparently large ancient neighborhood. It is a separate discussion whether or not it is correct to build a hotel over these extremely precious ruins. 

What I am saying is that the tourism sector in Hatay has not given up hope for a future these days when 70,000 more Syrian refugees are on our borders. 

Just as those who protect and promote Turkey's cultural and historic heritage.    

One of Turkey's biggest groups, the Do?u? Group, has undertaken the excavation and international promotion of Göbeklitepe. Two prominent businesswomen, Demet Sabanc? Çetindo?an and Elif Çoban...