Mersin Hosts First Turkey Culture Route Festival, Boosting Tourism and Culture

The Mediterranean port city of Mersin hosted the Turkey Culture Route Festival for the first time this year. The opening ceremony was led by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, with attendance from Mersin Governor Atilla Toros, local mayors and parliamentarians. Ersoy noted that the festival now spans seven regions and 26 cities, making it one of the world’s most extensive cultural‑art programs.

The Mersin edition features 159 events across 16 venues, including 13 concerts, four exhibitions, 19 adult workshops and eight children’s workshops. The programme showcases the city’s historic sites—from Alahan to Mamure Castle—and its culinary, beach and mountain heritage. Ersoy said the festival helps city branding, revitalises the local economy, stimulates tourism and strengthens social cohesion.

The event underscores Mersin’s growing role as a tourism hub, with officials citing rising visitor numbers and the city’s transformation into a major attraction in recent years.