Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism; He made statements regarding the restriction of music broadcasting, the tourism sector, restoration works and Cultural Road Festivals.
Ersoy answered questions in the Habertürk Gündem program broadcast live on Habertürk TV.
Making statements regarding the Ministry of Interior’s circular regarding the extension of the music broadcast time, which was determined to end at 00.00 during the Kovid-19 epidemic process, until 01.00, Ersoy stated that this decision should be looked at comprehensively and said, “As the Minister of Culture and Tourism, I am of course in favor of normalization. “It’s also the opinion of the government. However, when you approach the needs with the mind of the state, you need to protect the rights of all segments, not just one segment. I would like to point out some things in terms of combating noise pollution. The main problem starts here.” said.
Reminding the words of Fazıl Say about sound pollution, Ersoy said:
“The artist Say, stating that loud music in the venues in the holiday regions negatively affects not only the people around but also the normal concerts, said, “The issue is not music, it’s decibels. Theaters could not be played in Datça last summer. I stopped my concerts. The sound of 3 concerts was getting mixed up inside. It’s called noise. ‘ “I mean, this issue is not just about concerts. I also know that before the pandemic, many quality boutique hotels in Çeşme and Alaçatı decided to close in the middle of the season due to sound pollution. We shouldn’t look at the situation one-sided. This noise business needs to be managed. With music.” In the prominent Greek Island of Mykonos, the venues in the center turn off the loudspeakers outside the venue when it reaches 00.00. It is a selfish and insidious issue to see this as an ‘intervention in lifestyle’. This is not an issue to be discussed over politics. a subject.”
Pointing out that they are working on a certification program where sound pollution can be managed, Minister Ersoy said, “There is a formula for this. The world is dealing with it. If we can easily agree on certification, we can manage the situation very easily with the decisions we make. An agreement is made with the people who manage the economy of this business in the sector, it has technology. This decibel can be managed very easily, provided that it is entered after a certain time.” he said.
This year’s target in tourism is 42 million tourists, 35 billion dollars in revenue.
Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, reminded that they closed 2019 with a record number of tourists in the field of tourism, and said that they regressed in terms of income in 2020 due to the Kovid-19 epidemic.
Noting that they closed last year with 30 million tourists and 24.5 billion dollars in revenue, Ersoy stated that this year they set a target of 42 million tourists and 35 billion dollars in revenue.
Ersoy underlined that the most emphasized issue in tourism is market diversity, and explained that in this sense, they first established the Turkish Tourism Development Agency in 2019 and they did a lot of work to promote Turkey.
Stating that economic crises have been experienced throughout history and that the country should be accustomed to these troubles and be prepared, Minister Ersoy evaluated that Turkey has been by far the country that has been making the most intense and most effective promotion in the world for 2 years in terms of tourism.
Pointing out that Turkey is currently being advertised effectively on television channels in 140 countries, Ersoy said, “We are getting up to 200 on national channels at some points. There is no problem, we will catch the 2019 figures again. Due to the war in the Black Sea, we set aside our expectations. But 42 million tourists.” “We will achieve our revenue target of 35 billion dollars from alternative markets. Our alternative markets are also Western tourists. The first data shows this. The numbers are doing well at the moment.” said.
“Security measures have been increased in Hagia Sophia”
Mentioning the destruction in Hagia Sophia-i Kebir Mosque-i Şerif, Ersoy said:
“Hagia Sophia is operated by the Directorate of Religious Affairs, but it is owned by the General Directorate of Foundations. Both our Ministry and the Governor’s Office carry out restoration work there, we are already taking the necessary measures for protection. Of course, it is a place that receives a lot of visitors. There may have been some unconscious movements. There are only two examples that have taken place so far. Ours have identified the one about the door, but before we intervene there, we make sure to pass it through a laboratory filter. After the results come and our teachers approve, we intervene there in a controlled manner. The door was also repaired within two or three days after the results came. The most pleasing point for me is the public’s reaction. Such a sensitivity is actually our automatic control mechanism. Many measures were taken in Hagia Sophia, from the camera setup to extending the duration of memory cards, to increasing security personnel. It may have been an unconscious mindset. It may also be something that is done consciously because it is on the public agenda. Our main task is to record, create the necessary security environment and learn from the incidents.”
Emphasizing that they are carrying out repair works with a very serious team regarding Hagia Sophia, Ersoy said, “As of 2020, both our Governor’s Office and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have created a joint budget. It is followed by our President himself. Works have been accelerated at some points. Sultan mausoleums, children’s schools and south- Repairs continue on the northern walls. For the first time, we are making three-dimensional scanning with laser and preparing a holistic plan with scanning. Likewise, we prepare projects related to surveying, restoration and statics within the framework of the Scientific Committee. We’re going to move on to a more fundamental overhaul.” he said.
“Foreign tourists also enter Hagia Sophia very easily. There is no problem, they are very impressed”
Minister Ersoy said that renovation and restoration works are currently being carried out in the Sultanahmet Land Registry Building and that a museum about Hagia Sophia will be established here as well.
“We will exhibit many icons related to Hagia Sophia there. There are many items under protection in our warehouses, we will exhibit them. We want Sultanahmet Square to be used as a tourism square. There is no financial problem. Their budgets are ready. As you know, an intensive repair was made during the period of Mimar Sinan and Gaspare Fossati.
Foreign tourists also enter Hagia Sophia very easily. There is no problem, they are very impressed. They also like it to be a mosque. We have not received any complaints. There is a significant increase not only in Western tourists, but also in tourists from Muslim countries. I think it will probably become one of the most touristic places in the world by far.”