Proiect 1
Proiect 1
Proiect 1
Suceava
2018
Istanbul, Turkey
Introduction
Istanbul, the biggest city of Turkey on the basis of population (12 million), and the functions
performed, and subject to the most rapid and great change under contemporary conditions, has a great
potential to be an international city. Istanbul is the intersection point of the country and the region’s
transportation network, and has direct transportation capabilities to all regions, while its employment
opportunities, infrastructure and social facilities are higher compared to other regions. The European
Union considers that the Marmara Region, at the center of which is Istanbul, will continue to be the pivot
for Turkey’s development, and the industrial decentralization in the region will be sustained, while
Istanbul will advance to become a global city (SPO, 2000). The primary goal of Istanbul’s local
authorities is to look after the city’s historical, cultural and natural resources, providing the city with a
global status by making use of regional opportunities within the economic structures of the world and
region, and to assume a leading role in this structuring by establishing a balanced development (Istanbul
Greater Municipality, 2007).
Location
Istanbul historically known as Constantinople and Byzantium, is the most populous city in
Turkey and the country's economic, cultural, and historic center. Istanbul is a transcontinental city in
Eurasia, straddling the Bosphorus strait (which separates Europe and Asia) between the Sea of Marmara
and the Black Sea. Its commercial and historical center lies on the European side and about a third of its
population lives on the Asian side. The city is the administrative center of the Istanbul Metropolitan
Municipality (coterminous with Istanbul Province), both hosting a population of around 15 million
residents. Istanbul is one of the world's most populous cities and ranks as the world's 7th-largest city
proper and the largest European city. Istanbul is viewed as a bridge between the East and West.
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History
Founded under the name of Byzantion on the Sarayburnu promontory around 660 BCE, the city
grew in size and influence, having become one of the most important cities in history. After its
reestablishment as Constantinople in 330 CE, it served as an imperial capital for almost 16 centuries,
during the Roman/Byzantine (330–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin (1204–1261), and the Ottoman
(1453–1922) empires. It was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and
Byzantine times, before the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 CE and transformed it into an Islamic
stronghold and the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate.
Tourism
The population of the city has increased tenfold since the 1950s, as migrants from across Anatolia
have moved in and city limits have expanded to accommodate them. Arts, music, film, and cultural
festivals were established towards the end of the 20th century and continue to be hosted by the city today.
Infrastructure improvements have produced a complex transportation network in the city.
Approximately 12.56 million foreign visitors arrived in Istanbul in 2015, five years after it was
named a European Capital of Culture, making the city the world's fifth most popular tourist destination.
The city's biggest attraction is its historic center, partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and
its cultural and entertainment hub can be found across the city's natural harbor, the Golden Horn, in the
Beyoğlu district. Considered a global city, Istanbul has one of the fastest-growing metropolitan
economies in the world.
Here we have a list of places that are most visited by tourists in Istanbul:
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Aya Sofya
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Istanbul Archaeology Museum
Süleymaniye Mosque
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Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
The research studies conducted by the Ministry of Tourism and State Statistics Institute in
different years showed that the main purposes of foreign tourists for visiting Turkey are holiday and
vacation (55-60%), culture and historical (10-12.5%) and the rest as for business relations and shopping
(Bullet in of State Statistics Institute). In Turkey, 60% of the foreign tourists are coming from European
countries; Germany, UK and France are the three important tourist sources for Turkey. The number of
tourists originating from the Common-wealth of Independent States (C.I.S.) and the U.S.A. has also
increased in recent years. Although Turkey has been in the world tourism market as an attraction centre
especially for sun-sea-sand holiday trips, the incoming tourists stay long but they are not in high- income
groups in their own countries. The marketing strategy of Turkish tourism firms for Mediterranean
beaches is based on the fortunate possession of two quite different resources: unspoilt sandy beaches and
historical ruins related to the heritage of the potential Western Europe market.
Western European tourists are commonly interested in Graeco-Roman and early Christian
heritage of the cities of Western Turkey. There is, however, a lack of interest in Islamic Seljuk,
Ottoman or Kemalist heritage. The more specialised historical and cultural heritage tourism industry
attracts a relatively small number of tourists who are high-income and high-spending Western European
visitors staying in the major cities (especially Istanbul, Izmir and Bursa and regions such as Cappadocia
and Galatia) (Ashworth & Tunbridge, 2000).
With 12.56 million projected visitors in 2015, Istanbul outpaced New York and Singapore,
climbing two spots to become the fifth most visited city in the world, according to a report made in June
2015 by MasterCard Global Destinations Cities Index. I can say that according to many surveys and to
Butler’s tourism area life cycle, Istanbul is in the development stage working on it’s strategies for
cultural tourism development within the national perspective.
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Conclusion
It is inevitable to plan tourism elements of Istanbul in order to make the city competitive in the
international arena, and to follow new trends in the world. The common view is that Istanbul has the
highest potential for cultural tourism development in Turkey with a focus on cultural heritage, museums,
exhibitions, festivals, and trade-fair and congress tourism. These functions and types of tourism are
important contributors to the tourism sector by satisfying the visitors, but they can also make a significant
contribution to the urban quality. Therefore, most interested parties agree that Istanbul should make
progress in cultural tourism and use its rich cultural heritage and diversity for this purpose. Recently,
Istanbul was declared Culture Capital of Europe in 2010, and the related projects and funds represent an
opportunity by providing the right combination of culture, tourism and urban regeneration, and the
development of cultural tourism in Istanbul.
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References:
„Culture, tourism and regeneration process in Istanbul”, Ferhan Gezici and Ebru Kerimoglu
„Economic Impact of Heritage Tourism Hotels in Istanbul”, Füsun Istanbullu Dinçer and Suna
Mugan Ertugral
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul