Turkey’s Minister of Culture, Ertugrul Gunay, is asking museums around the world to return artefacts that are part of Turkey’s long and fascinating history.
Archaeology is one of Turkey’s biggest draws and people come from all over the world to see what treasures have been dug up and what they reveal about the past of the country.
More than 4,000 artefacts have been brought back to Turkey in recent years according to the Minister of Culture, and he has recently opened an archaeological museum that is dedicated to the display of Turkey’s heritage.
Gunay is asking for the return of high profile artefacts from some of the world’s most prestigious museums in Germany, the UK, USA and France, and although his style is being described as “aggressive”, the minister says that he is claiming back artefacts that were originally looted from Turkey.
These steps that Turkey is making towards preserving its heritage can only enhance the tourism experience in the country, as its interesting and colourful history is one of the reasons why it is popular as a destination for singles holidays.
Image credit: Verity Cridland (flickr.com)
