'Müze kart' a ticket to 'all you can see' of history

Entrance to more than 300 museums and ancient sites in Turkey is now cheaper than ever. Introduced by Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay, a unique type of smart card called the ‘Müzekart’ allows its holder to enter more than 300 museums for only YTL 20 during one year

Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL - Turkish Daily News

Turkey is rediscovering the value of its cultural heritage. Numerous museums, monuments, mosques and churches, as well as many other historic structures and ancient sites, have been noticeably neglected during the last decades and they have often been subject to dramatic levels of plundering by smugglers.

But lately Culture Minister Eruğrul Günay has launched an action plan in an effort to increase social consciousness among citizens of the country's rich cultural heritage. Another goal is to protect this millennia-old heritage, which is also a global property.

To serve that goal, the Culture and Tourism Ministry is going to issue a special card in the upcoming weeks called the Müzekart (museum card), which will allow its holder to visit more than 300 museums and ancient sites in Turkey in return for only YTL 20. The project aims to increase domestic tourism first and then also attract more foreign tourists to Turkey.

Müzekarts will be sold for YTL 20 to individuals at museum entrances and be valid for one year, during which time a local tourist can enter every museum free of charge from Topkapı Palace to Pergamon Museum and ancient sites including Nemrut and Cappadocia. A Müzekart should be renewed yearly.

Günay, speaking to the Turkish Daily News, said the following about the Müzekart project.

�The total income gained from entrance fees at museums and ancient sites last year was about YTL 77 trillion. Figures show that the number of local tourists who visited these museums and ancient sites last year was very low compared to the number of foreign tourists,� said Günay. �The Müzekart is designed for domestic tourists, but we are planning to introduce it for foreign tourists as well in the near future,� he added.

Visiting a museum costly for a family in Turkey

Visiting a museum is almost a luxury activity for many families in Turkey given the low level of minimum wage. Another factor in mass disinterest in museums is the relatively low level of education in the country.

In the past, domestic tourists used to pay less than foreign tourists for entrance to museums and ancient sites in Turkey. Since 2006, both local and foreign tourists pay the same amount for a ticket.

�Ticket prices were quite high for many families. Many times I have seen families leaving the museum without visiting it because they could not pay the fees at the ticket office,� said Günay and added that �Müzekart� will help to gradually eliminate this problem.

�Museums have not been promoted properly in Turkey so far. We have much to do. But first, we have to attract children to the museums,� said Günay. He cited recent workshops at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara in which children participated. Children acquired an awareness of history and a sense of belonging thanks to these workshops, he added.

Turkey to become prestigious tourism spot

Turkey has ascended the tourism ladder rapidly in recent years and is currently in the top league of countries that progress in tourism. �Turkey ranks among the top 10 countries attracting the highest number of tourists. Our goal is to make Turkey one of the top five,� said Günay.

Now it is time to break with the rigid understanding of tourism, said Günay and added that Turkey's rich cultural heritage is its most significant asset. �Tourists should come to Turkey not only for a holiday by the sea but also to see the myriad of ancient sites, museums and other cultural heritage. This would bring prestige and respectability to our country,� he said. Tourists in many European countries use smart cards similar to Müzekart, he said. The Müzekart project would contribute a lot to the Turkish economy, he added.

Müzekart will soon be at the service of art addicts as well as cinemagoers, granting access to many culture and art activities at a reasonable price.

www.muzekart.com

Inform,01.07.08