Göbeklitepe hosted 709 thousand visitors in 2024

Göbeklitepe, which is described as the "zero point of history" with its 12 thousand years of history in Şanlıurfa and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, was visited by 709 thousand 643 people in 2024.

The archaeological site, which was partially closed to visitors due to the construction of the upper protection roof in 2018 when it was opened to visitors, was visited by approximately 70 thousand people at that time. With President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declaring 2019 as the "Year of Göbeklitepe", Göbeklitepe managed to host 412 thousand 378 visitors.

Due to the pandemic, the expected number of visitors in 2020 was not met and only 197 thousand 912 people were able to visit the archaeological site. Göbeklitepe hosted 567 thousand 453 people in 2021, reaching the highest number of visitors in 4 years.

The historical site hosted 850 thousand guests in 2022, breaking the visitor record, but in 2023, the number of visitors dropped to 317 thousand 253 due to the earthquakes and floods centered in Kahramanmaraş.

Göbeklitepe, which is on the list of the most visited museums and archaeological sites of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2024, was visited by 709 thousand 643 people last year.

"People want to come with great excitement"

Müslüm Çoban, Member of the Board of Auditors of the Union of Chambers of Tourist Guides, said that tourism was very positive and productive for Şanlıurfa and the region in 2024.

Çoban stated that they could not host the number of tourists they wanted, especially in 2023, due to the effects of the earthquake and flood, as well as the museums not being open, and that they made up for this in 2024.

Çoban, who stated that there was a significant increase in the number of visitors to Göbeklitepe compared to the previous year due to the Taştepeler Project, noted the following: "Approximately 710 thousand visitors came to Şanlıurfa to visit Göbeklitepe in 2024. People from both Turkey and abroad want to come to Göbeklitepe with great excitement. In fact, some who had come and seen it before wanted to see it again. Especially the fact that the world's first Neolithic congress was held in Şanlıurfa in November, there was a lot of interest in Göbeklitepe from abroad. We are quite hopeful about this in 2025. After the World Neolithic Congress, our international connections, especially agencies and many people, want to come to Şanlıurfa in 2025 due to the Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe and Taş Tepeler Project, we know this very well." "Our goal in 2025 is to exceed 1.5 million visitors"

Müslüm Çoban, stating that tourism professionals and tradesmen in the region were positively affected by Göbeklitepe, Çoban noted the following:

"Our goal in 2025 is to exceed 1.5 million visitors. Because, thanks to the World Neolithic Congress held in November, the awareness of the Göbektepe, Karahantepe and Taştepeler Project has increased even more in the world. We want to host more tourists and guests, especially from the world, with the high level promotion of the Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe and Taş Tepeler Project by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Presidency in many fairs to be held abroad in 2025."