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Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Turkmenistan Ahmet Demirok spoke about the state and prospects of relations between the two countries in the field of culture and tourism. Speaking at a reception at the Turkish Cultural Center in Ashgabat, organized in the format of a photo exhibition, on Tuesday, April 16, on the occasion of Tourism Week in Turkey, the Ambassador noted the growing interest of Turkmen citizens in traveling around Turkey.

He referred to official statistics, according to which the number of tourist trips by citizens of Turkmenistan increased in 2023 compared to 2022 by 167%, amounting to 120,928 people.

Ahmet Demirok also cited the fact that Turkish Airlines has increased the number of flights on the Istanbul-Ashgabat route from 9 to 11 times a week since April 1, 2024, and Turkmenistan Airlines currently operates 10 flights a week on this route.

The Turkish Ambassador announced the launch of Ankara-Ashgabat flights in the near future; according to him, the parties are “carrying out the necessary work” for this.

He also said that last year information tours to Turkey were organized for media representatives of Turkmenistan, and today a group of representatives of Turkmenistan went to Turkey, who will take part in a cultural program on history and gastronomy in the cities of Sanliurfa and Gaziantep from April 16 to 20.

Ambassador Ahmet Demirok also focused on cultural ties, noting that during the official visit of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov to Turkey in October 2023, among other documents, an Agreement on cooperation in the field of culture was signed.

In this context, the Turkish diplomat promised that the cultural agenda of dialogue between Turkmenistan and Turkey will intensify in 2024, and said that the Yunus Emre Institute, a foundation dedicated to promoting Turkish culture around the world, is going to open a branch in Ashgabat.

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