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| ANKARA - Turkish Daily News The European Union has taken the initiative to revive tourism in Turkey's Southeast with an almost 1 million euro financial assistance package for two projects launched by the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce (GTO), private NTV's Web site reported yesterday. “An agreement concerning the two GTO projects was concluded last week between the European Commission and the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration,” GTO head Mehmet Aslan was quoted as saying. The two projects are among 32 projects for which 12 million euros have been earmarked to be granted. One of the GTO projects titled “Southeastern Anatolia Promotion” will cost 505,910 euros and the other, “Enhancing the Tourism Potential of Gaziantep (Zeugma), Halfeti and Rumkale,” is expected to run 466,301 euros. The projects aim at attracting foreign visitors to ancient Rumkale in Gaziantep -- where John, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, tried to spread Christianity during the Roman era. The projects also will establish Turkey's first modern mosaic school and develop traditional handicrafts in Halfeti, known as the land of black roses. Gaziantep is also known as a commercial and industrial center, but not at the same level either historically or culturally; however, mosaics excavated from the ancient city of Zeugma have heightened historical and cultural awareness of the city. The ancient city of Zeugma has been important throughout history since it is located in a very strategic region from a military and commercial standpoint, as the city was on the ancient Silk Road. Zeugma was very crucial in its day and had a peak population of 80,000. Gaziantep drew 30,000 visitors in the first seven months of 2005, as compared to 23,000 during the same period last year. This figure is expected to hit 50,000 by the end of the year. Projects to revive tourism in nine provinces: Aslan said the Southeastern Anatolia Promotion project included Gaziantep, Diyarbakýr, Þýrnak, Kilis, Siirt, Batman, Þanlýurfa, Mardin and Adýyaman. “We'll boost tourism in those nine provinces,” he added. Aslan emphasized that the GTO would prepare guidebooks about the history and tourist sites of the nine provinces, set up a Web site and release CDs that will contain a collection of local songs. “The second project, ‘Enhancing the Tourism Potential of Gaziantep (Zeugma), Halfeti and Rumkale,' aims to promote Zeugma and establish a mosaic school, which will be a first in Turkey,” Aslan said. “In cooperation with the Gaziantep Municipality, we'll revive the art of creating mosaics.” Projects to revive economy as well: Aslan predicted a 15 percent increase in the number of domestic and foreign visitors to the region next year with these two projects alone. “The projects will also help the economy because tourism means employment,” he said. |