Müzekart sales thriving in Turkey

Friday, August 15, 2008

KONYA-Anatolia News Agency

A card that was introduced in June that allows holders to enter more than 300 museums in Turkey for one year has been enjoying successful sales in the country's major tourist destinations. The Müzekart is on sale in 23 different locations and over 250,000 of the unique smart cards have been sold, according the Ministry of Culture's Revolving Capital Administration, or DÖSIMM, Director Yusuf Tüylüoğlu. �Müzekart receives greatest interest in the Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sofia Museum and Cappadocia. There is pretty much interest from all regions of the country, but Istanbul has lots of museums, which is why more cards are sold there. Tourists who previously visited Istanbul did not show interest in museums because they had to pay a different fee for each part of museums. Now thanks to Müzekart they have a chance to visit 16 museums in the city at a price of YTL 20.�

Tüylüoğlu said applications for the Müzekart started June 18.

Low interest in Konya

Konya Museum Deputy Director Naci Bakırcı said the Müzekart had not drawn the level of interest expected in Konya, a central Anatolian city. Noting that they had sold only 412 cards since June 18. �Tourists in Konya visit the Mevlana Museum only. The museum's entrance fee is YTL 2. This low entrance fee and the fact that the other museums are not visited is the reason why the card is not sold in the city. The situation is very different in other cities. Entrance fees in Istanbul and Cappadocia museums are higher, and there are many museums and ruins. This is why tourists prefer to buy this card in these places.�

Bakırcı said the Mevlana Museums hosts 2,000 foreign tourists every day, adding that a total of 17,300 local and foreign tourists visited the museum last weekend.

Müzekart

The cards, which were introduced by Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay, are sold for YTL 20 to individuals at museum entrances and are valid for one year, during which time a tourist can enter every museum free of charge, from Topkapı Palace to Pergamon Museum and ancient sites including Nemrut and Cappadocia. The Müzekart must be renewed yearly.

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