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Istanbul has long been Türkiye’s main base for international film and television projects, but Cappadocia now wants to move beyond its role as a striking backdrop.
Known worldwide for its fairy chimneys, rock-carved churches, and hot air balloons, the region is preparing to build the infrastructure for a larger production presence of its own.
Cappadocia in central Türkiye has hosted films, television series, and documentaries for years. Now officials want to back that visual appeal with film sets, post-production studios, and new investment.
The Ahiler Development Agency, known as AHIKA, is leading that effort through a support program designed to attract investors, strengthen the local economy, and create jobs. Officials also see the plan as a new way to promote one of Türkiye’s most recognizable regions to international audiences.
The project falls under the Industry and Technology Ministry’s Local Development Initiative and aims to draw both national and international productions to the region.
AHIKA Secretary General Bekir Varol said the agency had worked on the idea for years and had now completed feasibility studies and opened the application process.
“As Ahiler Development Agency, we have been carrying out studies for many years with the view that a film studio should be established in the region and that film and TV series shootings should be increased so that the region can be promoted more effectively across the world,” Varol said.
He said Cappadocia’s geography and historical setting make it a natural studio for many kinds of productions, and argued that the region now has the chance to turn that visual strength into a more permanent industry.
The support package targets a wide range of visual and audio production investments. It includes film sets, game and visual effects facilities, post-production studios, and other related infrastructure.
Applications will remain open until May 15, and Varol said AHIKA experts had already started helping investors through the process.
He said all machinery and equipment purchased under the investment plan will be exempt from value added tax. Imported machinery and equipment will also qualify for customs duty exemption.
The package also offers tax reductions until the benefit reaches 50% of the total investment amount. Varol gave the example of a ₺1 billion (around $22,5 million) investment and said the investor could keep receiving tax advantages until the total support reached ₺500 million.
The state will also cover the employer’s Social Security premium for eight years. Investors may also receive cash support worth up to 15% of the investment amount, or loan interest support worth up to 20%. Those who want to invest in the province but do not have a site may also receive land allocation if they meet the necessary conditions.
Varol said the broader goal is not only to attract productions but also to help Cappadocia secure a place among international film production centers.
“We foresee that these production and studio investments will be important for the promotion of the region. We believe they will contribute to the socio-economic development of the region,” he said.
For many, Cappadocia first brings to mind hot air balloons rising over an otherworldly landscape at sunrise. That image is real, but it is only one part of the story.
Cappadocia is located in central Türkiye. It ranks among the country’s most famous destinations and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985.
Its landscape took shape over millions of years through volcanic eruptions and erosion, which created the soft rock formations known today as fairy chimneys.
The region also carries deep historical importance. It has been inhabited since the Chalcolithic period (roughly 5000–3000 BCE) and later became an important center for early Christianity. Underground cities, churches, and archaeological sites still define much of its identity.
That combination of striking geography, long history, and global recognition explains why officials now want Cappadocia to offer more than scenery. They want it to become a place where productions are not only shot, but built.
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