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A new archaeology and ethnography museum has opened in Ermenek, a district of Karaman province in central-southern Türkiye, with officials presenting the site as a cultural investment aimed at bringing the area's heritage closer to visitors.
The Ahmet Kelesoglu Archaeology and Ethnography Museum was built by the Ahmet and Nezahat Kelesoglu Foundation and opened with an official ceremony attended by government, local and foundation representatives.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence and the reading of Türkiye's national anthem, after which a message from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was read out to the audience.
Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan said Ermenek stood out with its history, culture and natural beauty, adding that authorities were working to bring the district up to the level it deserves in tourism and draw visitors from different parts of the world.
Alpaslan said the ministry had worked closely with partners to bring the museum into service, describing Türkiye as a major cultural tourism country because of its historical, cultural and natural assets.
In his speech, Alpaslan said Türkiye had become the world's fourth most-visited country and had reached more than $65 billion in tourism revenue, adding that the country's potential left room for further growth.
He also pointed to Anatolia's long human history and said passing this cultural richness on to future generations remained a priority.
Referring to heritage protection efforts, Alpaslan said nearly 15,000 historical and cultural artifacts previously taken out of the country had been brought back to Türkiye.
"Today, with 767 archaeological excavations, we are the country carrying out the world's largest archaeological excavation efforts," he said.
Alpaslan also said that Türkiye had expanded its excavation work over the years and that many of the country's current projects were now led by Turkish academics and teams. He added that Ermenek also had important excavation areas and that the new museum would support culture, tourism and regional development.
Mustafa Sonay Gurgen, chair of the Ahmet and Nezahat Kelesoglu Foundation, said the foundation aimed to contribute to Ermenek's cultural heritage and described the museum as a living cultural center.
Former Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, Kalyon Holding Deputy Chair Lutfi Elvan and Ermenek Mayor Mustafa Bozcu also spoke at the program. After the speeches, the ribbon was cut and the museum was officially opened.
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