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Turkey was one of the most popular destinations of the year. It may be on the other side of the world, but that doesn’t stop travelers from getting there.
In all likelihood, your first stop will be the immaculate city of Istanbul. What a place! Half Asia and half Europe, this unique destination will overload your sense of wanderlust.
Istanbul may be the main attraction, but there is so much more. Another city gaining popularity is the beautiful coastal town of Antalya.
Located on the pristine blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the secret is out. However, that’s not the only coastal destination that should be on travelers’ radar.
There are a few waterfront towns that are destined to become Turkey’s next tourist hotspots. There is even a campaign to make this possible.
The cities of Rize and Samsun are promoted as top destinations for those seeking a renewed sense of Turkish culture, scenic views and the ultimate off-the-path beach holiday.
The Black Sea is already a tourist hotspot
The warm summer weather naturally means that we look for the best beach outings. Some choose to stay close to home. Others want to scratch their travel itch and travel the world.
Turkey has been a tourism hotspot all year round, but the Black Sea has seen its own wave of tourists with record numbers coming to its beautiful seaside resorts.
The Black Sea is not limited to Turkey; it covers a lot of ground. Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Georgia also own prime coastal real estate here.
Not to mention Ukraine and Russia, but tourists don’t exactly take advantage of the coastline in these neighboring countries for obvious reasons.
However, Turkey has taken note of the influx of travelers and wants to do the same promote and develop what they think are the next tourist destinations.
Samsun
The word “Samsun” translates to “port” in English. That’s fitting considering the city’s fame. According to Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, the story is going to change.
The goal is for Samsun to become a mainstream tourist destination. With the breathtaking scenery, the only surprise is that it is not yet a top destination.
“We will draw up this master plan together with our governor, our municipality and our deputies. Our ministry will fully support its development, and then the respective institutions will quickly carry out their roles,” said Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Mr Ersoy continued: “The Black Sea is already an important tourist destination, attracting many visitors especially from the Gulf States. Our goal is to spread these concentrated visits to other Black Sea cities such as Samsun and Rize.”
Samsun is much further than what you see when you look out at the vast sea. There are multiple archaeological sites to visit, a thriving culinary scene, breathtaking mountains and a potential tourist season that can last as long as four months.
This city already has a head start with well-known waterfront hotels such as Wyndham and Sheraton.
Rize
In Rize, many would say that the spectacular nature is unspoilt. There are not many places left with such features. Take the mountain town of Çamlıhemşin for example.
Here are unspoilt rolling green hills, perfect for a peaceful retreat. For those who like to disconnect, there may be no better place than Rize.
At least for now. It is not yet a popular destination, but tourism officials in Turkey plan to change that. In fact, the Minister of Culture and Tourism was also quoted as saying:
“Our goal is to achieve a turnover of $100 billion from tourism. To achieve this, it is not feasible to rely on current popular tourist destinations. We aim to ensure that all our 81 provinces can benefit from tourism.”
Time seems to stand still in Rize as it looks now. It may be a coastal city, but it would be hard to ignore the beautiful mountains.
This salubrious region of Turkey brings with it a sense of the true Turkish culture of simple living with a heightened sense of appreciation for nature.
Apart from the picturesque coastline lined with waterfront hotels, one of the main draws is Zilkale Castle, a centuries-old monument overlooking the breathtaking views of this tranquil region of Turkey.
Tourists can enjoy traditional Turkish tea and dishes while immersing themselves in a truly unspoiled gem.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
