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Göbeklitepe hosted 4 million 409 thousand visitors in 8th year on UNESCO list
Göbeklitepe, known as the zero point of history, has hosted 4 million 409 thousand 590 visitors in the 8th year of its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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Göbeklitepe, considered the zero point of history and the world's oldest known religious center, hosted 4 million 409 thousand 590 visitors in the 8th year of its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Located near the rural Örencik neighborhood of Şanlıurfa, 18 kilometers from the city center, Göbeklitepe was identified during surface surveys conducted in 1963. A statue found by a farmer in his field in 1986 revealed the importance of the area.
In excavations that began in 1995 with the permission of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, T-shaped obelisks dating to the Neolithic period, featuring wild animal figures, 3 to 6 meters high and weighing 40 to 60 tons, were unearthed.
Göbeklitepe was added to UNESCO's Tentative World Heritage List in 2011. It was included on the permanent list during the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee held in Bahrain on July 1, 2018. Interest in the region increased further after this designation.
After President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared 2019 as the "Year of Göbeklitepe," the number of visitors began to rise rapidly. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, earthquakes, and floods, the number of visitors to the region over 8 years reached 4 million 409 thousand 590.
"Göbeklitepe is an opportunity for Şanlıurfa"
Mehmet Kamil Türkmen, President of the Şanlıurfa Tourism Development Association, stated in his remarks that there had been significant activity in the region following Göbeklitepe's inclusion on the UNESCO list in 2018 and President Erdoğan's declaration of 2019 as the "Year of Göbeklitepe."
Türkmen said, "Göbeklitepe is an opportunity for Şanlıurfa. This might sound a bit ambitious, but it is actually an opportunity for the whole of Turkiye. With the 'Taş Tepeler' project and excavations being carried out at 12 different points simultaneously, our region has gained very significant momentum on its way to becoming a center of attraction for the whole world."
Türkmen noted that despite heavy rainfall, over 320 thousand visitors came in the first half of 2026, adding, "This shows we can reach our year-end target of 1 million visitors. The season is just beginning."
Drawing attention to the importance of the UNESCO listing for foreign tourists, Türkmen stated that Şanlıurfa has one site on the permanent list, Balıklıgöl and Harran are candidates, and Karahantepe will soon be added, emphasizing the need to address infrastructure deficiencies.
Praise and invitations from visitors
Sabri Şahin, who came from Germany, said he visited Göbeklitepe for the first time, curious about the ancient site he saw online and wanting to see it as soon as he arrived in Turkiye. Şahin said, "We came and saw it; the monuments and figures are very ancient. I thank the authorities who opened this place for visits. It is a very beautiful place. I hope they open other areas as well."
Sevil Ünlü, who came from Aksaray and has traveled to many parts of Turkiye, said Turkiye is a veritable paradise of history, adding, "I had researched Göbeklitepe before. Turkiye is a paradise, and Göbeklitepe is one of its most beautiful and oldest examples. I want its value to be fully recognized, and more people to come and see it. Let us protect the riches of our country."
Gülsüm Sayın, visiting for the first time from Mersin, expressed her great admiration for Göbeklitepe, saying, "I was curious, I came and toured. These are truly places worth seeing. I recommend it to everyone."
Maria Nica / Editor
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