Published on : Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Göbeklitepe, the world’s oldest known temple, in southeastern Turkey, has attracted more tourists worldwide since its recognition by UNESCO last year.
“When an area is inscribed on a UNESCO list, it becomes one of the best known places in the world,” said Celal Uludağ, head of the excavation team at the 12,000-year-old site.
Located in the southeastern Şanlıurfa province, Göbeklitepe made it to the UNESCOWorld Heritage List in June 2018.
“It also ranks among the places recommended by the most important tourism agencies in the world,” Uludağ added. He said that lot of work is being carried out for the UNESCO registration of Göbeklitepe, with the support of the Culture and Tourism Ministry and Doğuş Group.
He said that after the UNESCO recognition, the number of visitors, especially foreign tourists, has increased at the site.
“In the upcoming period, the number will continue to rise,” Uludağ added.
Göbeklitepe is recognized as the oldest temple in the world by many international organizations. The site attracted extra attention after 2019 was declared the Year of Göbeklitepe.
In spite of intense heat in the summertime, high numbers of visitors visit the historical temple, said Kamil Türkmen, chairman of the Tourism Profession Committee of the ŞanlıurfaChamber of Commerce and Industry.
Göbeklitepe was found in 1963 by researchers from universities in Istanbul and Chicago. Since then, the excavations have continued.