Ephesus popular among tourists again

İZMİR - Anadolu Agency

The most popular place among tourists was the ancient site of Ephesus this year again just like in previous years. It drew 63 percent of all visitors. DHA photo

İzmir, which is home to important ancient sites and museums such as Ephesus, Acropolis and St. Joan, this year hosted nearly 3 million people in these historical places. The most popular place among tourists was the ancient site of Ephesus just like in previous years. The ancient Greek city, which dates back to 6,000 B.C., drew 63 percent of all visitors coming to İzmir.

According to data provided by the Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate, 2,868,862 people visited the ancient sites and museums in İzmir between January and November 2013. The revenue from these places was 13,175 million.

Among the places which drew the highest number of visitors were Ephesus, St. Jean, Yamaçevleri and Acropolis. With 1,800,251 visitors, Ephesus received 72 percent of all revenues.

Ephesus was followed by the Basilica of Saint Joan with 319,529 people and the Acropolis in Bergama with nearly 212,000 visitors. The high season for the ancient places was August. Ephesus received nearly 244,000 visitors in August.

In İzmir, the total number of visitors to museums was 123,602, which is behind the number of visitors to museums such as the History and Arts Museum, Archaeology Museum and Çeşme Museum.

Meanwhile, the number of museum and ancient site visitors decreased by 9.3 percent compared to the same period of last year. The decrease in visitors was also felt in revenues, which was 13,175 million with a decrease of 2.6 percent.