Rome: Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, has highlighted the success of the country’s “night museum” initiative as a model for sustainable tourism. Speaking at the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2025 Global Summit in Rome, he explained how extended visiting hours at archaeological sites have transformed both tourism and local economies.
Ersoy noted that Türkiye, home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations, has greatly expanded investment in archaeology and cultural heritage. Over the past seven years, the government increased excavation budgets 20-fold, using a portion of tourism revenue to finance cultural projects. “The more we invest in our culture and archaeology, the more we earn from tourism,” he said.
A key outcome of these investments was the launch of “night museums,” allowing visitors to tour archaeological sites until 10 p.m. The program has proven especially popular in coastal regions, where daytime temperatures often exceed 35 degrees. Tourists who once stayed indoors during peak heat now explore museums in the evening before moving into city centers, creating additional business for local shops and restaurants.
According to Ersoy, this approach not only extends the tourism season beyond the summer but also fosters greater acceptance among local communities. “If everyone benefits from tourism, no one will oppose it,” he said.
The minister added that the program’s success has created demand for similar initiatives across the country. With new infrastructure projects underway in Antalya, Istanbul, and other regions, Türkiye aims to meet rising demand and position itself as a global leader in sustainable cultural tourism.
