RELIGION TOURISM

The Tourism sector is passing through a development process, in which an unterstanding based on an unspolied nature, unique cultural identy and activ holiday is gaining more importance each day. By also taking into account the changing consumer preferences, Our ministry aimed at diversifying and expanding tourist activities and at utilizing the untouched potenial. To this end, it is at present carrying out work to explore the exiting natural and cultural values and place these into tourism activities.

The Turkish people, whit a predominantly Moslem population, have constructed valuable mosques, turbans and similar religious places in Anatolia throughout Centuries. In addition to the Islamic works of art, a great number of churches, synagogues and other temples, as well as schools and foundations which provide religious education, are scattered throughout Turkey, as Anatolia has been a cradle of civilizations dating back to the earlyages, the refuge of Jews fleeing the Inquisition of Spain in the Middle Ages and the haven of Christians in the initial stages of Christian religion.

All these works belonging to other religions have survived up today because of the deep tolerance of Turks to other beliefs and cultures and undoubtedly all these are advantages of our country.

Evaluating to visits paid by tourists of other religions within the tourism process, cab be described as the Religion Tourism. Turkey’s Religion Tourism Project aims at;

-Restoring, environmentally improving, promoting the important attraction sites of the great religions, the Moslem, Christian and Jew,

-Increasing the number of visitors and foreign currncy reveunes.

-Showing to the world, through a number of avtivities, the fact that all kinds of religious beliefs were freely expressed for Centuries, especially under the Turkish rule and all peoples were living in Anatolia by enjoying the freedom of belief and within an atmosphere of brotherhood.

            One of the highlights of the project is to take part in the celebrations of the 2000th anniversary of the Birthdayof Jesus. The inventory prepared by Ministry on the works of art of the three main religions, include namely;

            1-Konya-Mevlana (founder of the Sufi phgilosophy and sect); the Saint Paul Church in southern city Tarsus in which Christian Saint Paul has lived; the home of Virgin Mary in Aegean city İzmir’s Ephesus township; Saint Pierre Church in southern city Antalya;

            2-The Selimiye Mosque and Ayafoya (St. Sophia) which have a great importance in the history of art;

            3-The first Synagugue in Sard, the first examples of its kind, because of its architectural features;

            4-Important and accessible centers which have been included in the tour programs of travel agencies.

            Tourism Ministry is cooperating with the Culture Ministry, the General Directorate for Foundations, the Religious Affairs Directorate, Universities and local administrations, to carry out the project, which will stretch beyond the 2000s.

Bibliography: “Religion Tourism”. Silk Road. 1994(7). Turkey Tourism Ministry.