Istanbul launches ‘tourism ambassador’ program for Historic Peninsula
A total of 330 young volunteers selected under Istanbul’s Fatih Municipality’s “tourism ambassadors project” will provide guidance to domestic and international visitors across the city’s Historic Peninsula throughout the summer, helping promote Istanbul’s rich cultural heritage.
Speaking at the launch event on July 8, Fatih Mayor Mehmet Ergün Turan described Istanbul as one of the world’s foremost tourism destinations, citing its approximately 8,500-year history, strategic location and extraordinary cultural legacy. He said the heart of that heritage lies within the Fatih district.
He noted that the Historic Peninsula served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires for centuries and today functions as a living open-air museum, home to more than 10,000 registered cultural assets.
Highlighting the city’s tourism performance, Turan said Istanbul welcomed 1.47 million foreign visitors in May 2026 alone, adding that roughly 42 percent of all international tourists arriving in Türkiye chose to visit the city.
