Tourism in Diyarbakir
A street in Diyarbakir
There is great potential for tourism to Diyarbakir. This ancient historical city has a wealth of tourist attractions, both architecturally and archaeologically. There are enough Diyarbakir hotels, restaurants, museums and tourist sites to know that the basic infrastructure is already there to be built upon and developed. Not only this, there is also the people of Diyarbakir, mostly Kurdish (90% are Kurdish) who welcome foreigners with open arms and will invite you for tea or coffee or perhaps a meal. Diyarbakir is not an expensive travel destination, hotels, both the 4 star and budget hotels in Diyarbakir and food will not cost you a fortune. Your greatest expensive will be getting to Diyarbakir, whether by plane, train, bus or car.
What is needed is firstly the recognition of this potential for tourism and the benefits that it would bring to the roughly 1.5 million residents of the city of Diyarbakir. In Diyarbakir, where the unemployment is relatively high, there are many opportunities for the development and investment of industry. This relies, of course, in the will of investors and political leaders to invest in Diyarbakir and other cities of south eastern Turkey. The benefits to the people of Diyarbakir and to the country as a whole are infinitely positive.
Overshadowing this is lack of investment, the problem remains for this mostly Kurdish city the lack of human rights, language rights and the ongoing “problems” that exist between the Turkish government and the Kurdish people. Once in a while there will be peace rally, especially on September 21st (International Peace Day) which stirs up violent police reaction for some strange reason. The police do not like public gatherings of Kurdish people and enforce a government policy of breaking up all public gatherings and even Kurdish new year (Newroz) celebrations. In turn, this leads to street protests and tend to become ugly. This is all about the subject of Identity which is a deeply troubling issue for the Turkish government.
A people with equal democracy, language rights, human rights and jobs are a happy people. The solution is rather simple and basic. As far as I am concerned, people should be able to speak any language they choose and it shouldn’t bother others. Nothing is more pleasant than to walk down a city street and hear a plethora of foreign languages in one’s ears. It gives one the comforting sense of existing in the world of mankind.
Investing in tourism in Diyarbakir will create jobs, create hope and create futures with promise. It will open up Diyarbakir to the world, to other people and cultures. Tourists to Diyarbakir will learn of another culture, another history, another people. Historically, people with employment and a future have been a contented happy people. Worldwide, the theory of bread on the table for every man, woman and child has worked wonders.
However, things are slowly improving for Diyarbakir and with its fledgling tourism industry, there is more hope.
For Diyarbakir travel, what to see in Diyarbakir is probably your first question. Tourists will be first drawn to the ancient Roman and Byzantine city walls that surround the old city of Diyarbakir. There are many interesting and historical mosques and churches as well, starting with one of the most popular of mosques, the Ulu Camii (“Great Mosque”) constructed in the 11th century by the Seljuk Turkish Sultan Malik Shah. There are the winding narrow streets in old Diyarbakir with the possibility of getting lost in them, so go with a map you can obtain from the tourist office. The Hasan Paşa Hanı, ca. 1573, with a large courtyard, now renovated and full of teashops, a gallery and nice souvenir shops is not to be missed. There are the former homes of Ataturk, Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı, Ziya Gökalp, and Esma Ocak Evi, all beautiful examples of the ancient houses of Diyarbakir and now museums worth visiting. And then there are the thousands of street children of Diyarbakir, playing marbles, playing football, skipping rope, hanging around in large groups and sometimes being pickpockets to survive in desperate economic times. Watch your purses, cellphones and wallets, because as in any city as a tourist – you need to take extra care. Jewelery, silk, carpets, embroidery, copper, silver, spices are some of the local craft souvenirs you can buy when in Diyarbakir. Visiting Diyarbakir will also involve sampling some of the delicious local foods, going to the cafes and tea houses of the city to talk with the locals who will jump at the chance to practice their English skills with you.
The photo opportunities in Diyarbakir are numerous and travel to Diyarbakir will leave you with many memories and a rich experience of a new culture and place, far, far away from your own. Embrace the world, it is now Global.
