Asian tourists taking cultural tours in Antalya, ecological tours in Isparta

Cihan Photos

Antalya and the nearby provinces of Isparta and Burdur are attracting growing numbers of Korean and other Asian tourists who are looking for a holiday full of culture and adventure With culture on offer in Antalya and outdoor activities available in Isparta and Burdur, tourists from East Asia are increasingly flocking to southern Turkey for holiday opportunities.

Intrigued by natural and archeological artifacts, tourists from South Korea, Taiwan and China are taking part in activities such as collecting roses, cherries and berries in Burdur and Isparta, visiting Yörük tents and participating in village house tours. 

Some 295,000 tourists per year from South Korea, China and Taiwan visit Turkey to learn more about cultural, ecological, archeological, folkloric and commercial sites and artifacts. 

South Korean tourists have been gravitating toward tours of archaeological sites that include everything from Xanthos on the border between Antalya and Mu?la to the Ancient Theater of Aspendos, as well as eco-tours to nearby Isparta and Burdur.

"Unlike Russian, Scandinavian and European tourists, South Korean tourists don't have a proclivity for a sea, sun and beach kind of holiday. They are more interested in natural life, villages, Yörük life and a quality time in nature. In that sense, Antalya is a very preferable place. Having a lot of historical sites, the Mediterranean resort attracts Asian tourists who come mainly to Istanbul. For Asian tourists, Burdur and Isparta are very enticing sites to visit. South Korean and Taiwanese tourists can collect cherries in A?lasun after visiting the Ancient City of Sagalassos," said Dr. Myung Hee, an SSR Tourism Holiday Agency Korean Tourist Guide and Archeological tourism...

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