“Turkish TV series are the world’s biggest Turkish language course,” Says minister Ersoy
Under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Turkiye’s digital promotion brand GoTürkiye, a series of mini dramas featuring famous actors have been produced to showcase the country to global audiences.
Speaking at a press conference at Atatürk Cultural Center, Culture and Tourism Minister of Turkiye Mehmet Nuri Ersoy emphasized that modern tourism is about experiencing a story and lifestyle, not just visiting a destination. He highlighted Turkiye’s strategy of promoting over 60 diverse tourism products—from gastronomy and health to cultural and sports tourism—turning the country into a destination to experience, not just visit.
Through the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), Ersoy noted that Turkiye reaches audiences in nearly 200 countries, with GoTürkiye operating in 10 languages and 21.3 million social media followers across nine platforms.
TGA-produced films and commercials have amassed over 31.5 billion views and 11 billion video plays worldwide.
Ersoy praised Turkish TV series as a powerful tool for cultural diplomacy. “Just as Hollywood films teach English worldwide, Turkish series are teaching Turkish,” he said. The shows are broadcast in 170 countries, with about one billion viewers, and generate over $1 billion annually in export revenue, making them Turkiye’s largest soft power asset.
The minister also highlighted new mini series designed to promote Turkish cities and culture globally, including Antalya Gambit, Istanbul My Love, Hidden Lover, and An Istanbul Story, collectively garnering billions of views. “Now our globally recognized stars are actively promoting Turkiye’s cities, culture, and lifestyle,” he said.
Ersoy added that future productions meeting promotion criteria will receive ministry support, and historic sites will be made available as filming locations under the “Legacy for the Future” project.
