The threat to cultural life

News Center

While the number of museums and protected areas in Turkey is increasing, illegal construction and budget inadequacy threaten cultural heritage.

While the number of protected areas and museums in the country is increasing, cultural heritage continues to face serious threats. According to cultural heritage data released yesterday by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the number of museums increased from 606 in 2023 to 636 in 2024. Ministry-affiliated museums increased from 212 to 217, and private museums from 376 to 401. Museums and archaeological sites, visited by 55.7 million people in 2023, were visited by 61.6 million people in 2024.

NO CARE INSURANCE

The highest museum visitor numbers occurred in Istanbul, Izmir, and Nevşehir. However, this increase did not provide sufficient assurance regarding the preservation, maintenance, and accessibility of the sites.

The picture is more complex when it comes to the number of artifacts. In 2023, the number of artifacts in private museums had decreased by 32.5 percent. Data for 2024 shows that some of this decline was offset, with a 1.7 percent increase in private museums and a 0.9 percent increase in museums affiliated with the Ministry. Thus, the total number of artifacts rose from 3.9 million to 3.99 million.

The number of immovable cultural assets increased from 124,671 to 127,285, and the number of protected areas increased from 24,786 to 26,127.

ALLOCATED RESOURCES LIMITED

While the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's 2025 budget was debated in Parliament in recent months, the figures revealed both the magnitude and the limitations of the resources allocated to cultural heritage. While the Ministry's total budget proposal was 53.2 billion lira, the share allocated to culture in the general budget remained below 1 percent. This ratio was similar to the previous year; therefore, while the absolute figures increased, its weight within the central budget remained unchanged.

Furthermore, considering inflation, the real increase was found to be insufficient. Despite the increase in visitor numbers, the limited resources allocated to the maintenance of museums and archaeological sites, and the protection and accessibility of historical sites, were noteworthy.

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UNLAWFUL CONSTRUCTION

Illegal construction and development plans targeting protected areas are also on the rise. Some of these include:

• The Antalya Archaeological Museum has been closed and is being demolished due to its earthquake resistance and increased storage needs. The decision to demolish is drawing criticism.

• Construction and projects in the Kırkgöz Reservoir and Phaselis ancient city in Antalya threaten archaeological sites.

• Olive groves, forests and water resources in Muğla are at risk due to various projects.

• Birkleyn Cave in Lice, Diyarbakir, has not yet gained protected area status.