The Göbekli Tepe temple complex in the southeastern Turkish province of Şanlıurfa was expected to receive 781 000 domestic and foreign tourists by the end of 2025,
AZERTAC reports, citing data from the Şanlıurfa Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism.
The directorate noted that tourism to Göbekli Tepe has recovered following a two-year decline due to the aftermath of the devastating 2023 earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş.
Provincial authorities hope that the number of tourists visiting the 12,000-year-old megalith will reach 1 million by the end of this year.
The TECHNOFEST 2026 Aerospace and Technology Festival, which will be held in Şanlıurfa this year, is expected to serve as an incentive for visiting the temple complex.
The Göbekli Tepe complex, which means “Pot-bellied Hill” in Turkish, was discovered by scientists in 1963 and in July 2018 was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shortly after excavations began there in 1995, archaeologists discovered T-shaped Neolithic steles depicting animals, ranging in height from 3 to 6 meters and weighing between 40 and 60 tons.
In March 2019, the complex was officially opened by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Turkish leader declared 2019 the Year of Göbekli Tepe.
