What is ECOC?
The European Capital of Culture is a city
designated by the European Union for a period of one
calendar year during which it is given a chance to
showcase its cultural life and cultural development.
A number of European cities have used the City of
Culture year to transform their cultural base and,
in doing so, the way in which they are viewed
internationally.
After long processes and endeavours of many civil
society members, Istanbul was found ready on 11
April 2006 for being the European Capital of Culture
2010 along with Peç (Hungary) and Essen (Germany).
Conceding the view of European Parliament and
approval by the Council of Cultural Ministers of the
European Union on 13 November 2006 Istanbul was
finally announced to be the European Capital of
Culture for 2010.
Visit the official website of Istanbul 2010 European
Capital of Culture.
Why Istanbul?
Istanbul maintains a distinguished position among
the metropolis of the world with its unique
geographical location and a cultural heritage of
thousands of years. As one of the most energetic
cities in the world Istanbul continually gets to be
an attraction center.
What will happen in the year 2010 in Istanbul?
• As Turkey moves ahead with the process of its
candidacy for the European Union, the projects that
will be realized will demonstrate that Istanbul, the
symbol of the country, has been interacting with
European culture for hundreds of years.
• The city’s cultural heritage will be managed in a
sustainable manner and it will become even more of a
magnet than ever.
• Istanbul will achieve lasting gains in the fields
of urban renewal, urban living and environmental and
social development.
• New museums will be established to protect and
display our cultural assets and historical buildings
will be renovated, given new roles and opened to the
public.
• People of Istanbul will embrace new artistic
disciplines. Young talented people will have the
opportunity to become more closely involved in
artistic creativity.
• Jobs will be created for a large number of people
ranging from communications to organization,
education, design, management and creative fields.
• Those who come to Istanbul for cultural and
artistic projects will visit the city’s cultural
riches, mosques, churches, palaces and museums.
• Cultural tourism will be invigorated and develop.
(Educated, cultured tourists spend three times as
much as normal tourists. This means that, as a
European Capital of Culture, Istanbul will have a
great tourism potential.)
• Many people from the world of culture and the
arts, together with members of the print and visual
media, will come to Istanbul from Europe and
different countries all around the world. This will
make a positive contribution to the promotion and
branding of Istanbul. Being selected as a European
Capital of Culture will give a boost to the city’s
economic relations with Europe as well as
contributing to its cultural relations. With the
renovation that will take place, the administrators
and administered will join together, hand in hand,
sharing their knowledge and experience, to develop a
long-term sustainable model for the future.
• Istanbul local residents will be proud of their
city as they further discover its beauty.
What do we recommend?
Make reservations for your hotels, flights and
tours now for summer 2010. This is a very busy year
for travel to Turkey and travel services there may
be fully booked well in advance.
According to The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and
World Tourism Organization, last year tourism to
Turkey broke the world record for an increase in
tourism. After receiving 20 million tourists last
year, Turkey may host 25 million this year, bringing
it into fourth place among Mediterranean countries,
following only France, Italy and Spain. Turkey seems
primed to be among the world's top ten tourist
destinations.
In mid-May the pressure on tourist services shifts
from Istanbul to the Aegean and Mediterranean
coasts. Hotels may be fully booked well in advance
for May, June, July, August and early September.
In mid-September the pressure shifts from the
seacoasts back to Istanbul, where hotels may be
fully booked for late September, October and early
November.
On May 28th to 30th, Istanbul's Formula 1 Grand Prix
auto race at the brand-new Istanbul Otodrom 62 km
(34 miles) southeast of the city center will fill
all of the city's available hotels, and even hotels
in nearby cities.
Especially hotels, but also for other services such
as flights, tours, car rentals, sleeper trains, and
hot-air balloon flights, it will be important to
have advance reservations, because all of these
services are likely to be very crowded, and often
filled to capacity.
Make your reservation as soon as possible to
guarantee your place in package tours and individual
hotel bookings.
Best Regards...
Best Regards...
MyTurkeyTours.com®
