Samsun Cultural Road Festival highlights local cuisine, drives city economy

The Samsun Cultural Road Festival showcased the region’s traditional foods through the Turkey Tourism Promotion Agency’s “Lezzet Noktası” project, which selected 44 local eateries to serve specialties such as Bafra pide, manda cheese pide, Çarşamba pide, Nebiyan beans, buffalo‑milk ice cream and clotted‑cream lokum. Organisers said the strong visitor interest in these stalls helped raise Samsun’s profile as a gastronomy tourism destination and contributed directly to the city’s economy.

Participating business owners reported increased visibility not only across Turkey but also internationally, attributing the boost to the festival’s promotion and the year‑round digital guide that keeps the “Lezzet Noktası” routes accessible to tourists. Chefs highlighted the blend of Black Sea, Anatolian, Balkan and Caucasian culinary influences, positioning Samsun as a growing hub for food‑related travel.

The initiative aims to sustain interest beyond the festival period, encouraging continual discovery of the city’s culinary heritage and supporting local producers and restaurants.