Istanbul Launches Cultural Festival Aimed at Boosting Tourism

Istanbul, The Culture Route Festival kicked off in Istanbul, featuring over 500 events spread across nine days. The festival was inaugurated by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy at the Ataturk Cultural Center in the Beyoglu district, highlighted by a performance of “Carmina Burana” by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Taking place at more than 110 venues, including iconic locations like the Galataport Clock Tower Square along the Bosphorus Strait, the festival showcases a variety of events, including concerts, film screenings, and exhibitions by international artists. Notable works include Refik Anadolu’s “Earth Dreams: Anatolia,” which presents a blend of photography, digital art, painting, sculpture, and traditional crafts.

Minister Ersoy expressed optimism about the festival’s potential to enhance tourism, citing a record 12.27 million visitors to Istanbul in the first eight months of this year. The Culture Route Festival, which began in 2021, has now expanded to include 15 other cities across Turkey.