Göreme

The UNESCO National Commission of Türkiye has decided to allow the cap of the iconic fairy chimney in Paşabağlar Valley in Cappadocia to collapse naturally due to the risk of it falling, while ensuring the safety of visitors.

The Culture and Tourism Ministry is planning to turn Cappadocia, known for hot balloon rides and fairy chimneys, into a big venue for weddings and honeymoons, hoping to lure visitors from all around the world for such special occasions.

The seventh stop of the Turkish Cultural Road Festival, organized by the Culture and Tourism Ministry in 16 cities this year to contribute to the country's international brand value, will be the central Anatolian province of Nevşehir.

The country's museums and archaeological sites have attracted almost 14 million visitors in the first six months of the year, seeing a considerable uptick compared to the same period last year, the Culture and Tourism Ministry has announced.

An unprecedented archaeological discovery of a necropolis, unlike the distinctive rock-craved graves, has been uncovered in Cappadocia, one of Türkiye's most important tourism centers.

The ancient city of Ephesus in the Selçuk district of İzmir hosted some 130,000 people last week, becoming the most visited museum in Türkiye during the Eid holiday.

Nearly 4 million visitors have flocked to museums and archeological sites in the first three months of 2024, according to a recent announcement made by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

The Cappadocia region has broken the visitor record with nearly 5 million local and foreign tourists in 2023 as one of the top tourism centers in Türkiye.

"There is an increase of approximately 21 percent during 2023 compared to 2022. This figure is the highest number of all time, a record," said Nevşehir Mayor Ali Fidan.

Cappadocia, the popular destination in the central Anatolian province of Nevşehir, broke a new visitor record.

Uber has started offering hot balloon rides in touristic Cappadocia, renowned for its natural formations, underground and aboveground cities, as well as its fairy chimneys.

"Starting this week, Uber Balloon will be available in the UNESCO World Heritage Göreme National Park, and riders can book directly in the app via Uber Reserve," the company said in a statement on Oct. 24.