Tekirdağ Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism, Ahmet Hacıoğlu, stated that the tourism season in the city, which is surrounded by greenery and blue, has been full for 8 months. He mentioned that nature enthusiasts who visit the city engage in activities such as camping, hiking, ATV tours, and paragliding at Uçmakdere. Hacıoğlu stated, “We have reached the targeted number of tourists in 8 months. By the end of the year, weather permitting, especially after the grape harvest, our vineyards will attract many tourists, and therefore, I believe we will exceed our target.”
He also highlighted that the city, which has 8 blue-flagged beaches, attracts thousands of visitors every year, indicating an increasing interest in the region. Hacıoğlu emphasized the importance of the longer holidays during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, stating, “When you consider summer residents, day-trippers, hotel guests, campers, visitors to vineyard houses, paragliders, ATV enthusiasts, and sailors visiting our colorful sunflower and lavender fields, we have had a very productive season.”
Hacıoğlu mentioned that Tekirdağ’s proximity to Istanbul is a significant advantage for tourism, with the majority of domestic tourists coming from Istanbul. He also pointed out the increase in the number of visitors from abroad, mentioning that visitors from countries like Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary have been increasing compared to previous years. With 850,000 summer residents in the area, Tekirdağ attracts many day-trippers and tourists, making full use of the 133-kilometer coastline along the Sea of Marmara from Sultanköy to Çanakkale.
He expressed optimism regarding the potential for further growth in tourist numbers, especially with the ongoing grape harvest and the upcoming paragliding flights in favorable weather conditions. Hacıoğlu also mentioned the increasing interest in geographical indication gastronomy products, which could attract even more visitors. With the current trends and attractions in Tekirdağ, he believes that the number of visitors could surpass 4 million by the end of the year.
