Roberta Fedele Saudi Gazette Saudi journalists were invited to a unique and rarely explored “treasure” town, Kastamomu, located on the coast of Black Sea in Anatolia by its governor Erdogan Bekta? to experience the tucked away town's natural beauties, folklore, historical landscapes, handicrafts and traditional cuisine, among other delightful wonders, that his region offers to its visitors. “Kastamonu is a hidden treasure in the center of the Middle East. Thanks to its cool highlands, cold springs, waterfalls, steep canyons, valleys and plateaus, the region has incredible potential for eco-tourism, winter sports and healthcare treatments. Kastamonu also enjoys the privilege of hosting the Kure Mountains National Park, one of Europe's 13 world Pan Parks (Protected Area Network of Parks),” said Bekta? in his welcoming speech to the press. “My intention is to exploit this potential, launching a series of initiatives to attract tourists and foreign investors. A newly built Kastamonu airport connecting travelers via Istanbul will open in a couple of months and innovative touristic facilities will allow old and handicapped people to visit our canyons and fully enjoy their vacation. Besides, golf fields will be created soon, interactive programs have been launched to enhance our people's English skills and $15 million have been invested to establish a fully equipped winter sport center on Ilgaz mountains,” he added. According to Bekta?, Kastamonu's annual wooden fair, hand weaving workshops, Ottoman Empire houses, and Anatolian cuisine can represent interesting attractions for people willing to rediscover the flavors of ancient habits and ways of life. Not to mention the unique opportunity tourists have to enhance their well-being by walking through the canyons and practicing winter tracking. In fact, new tracking roads have just been built to welcome visitors from Dubai and Tajikistan next winter. Bekta? also highlighted business opportunities for foreign investors, especially in the wood industry, and expressed his wish that business, touristic and cultural relations with Gulf countries will soon be enhanced. “In Kastamonu, local and foreign investors are treated equally and they can easily buy houses and lands. One of Kastamonu's three biggest plywood factories was sold, for instance, to an Austrian company. My hope is to see more tourists and investors coming from Saudi Arabia, a very dear country to me – I have been there three times to perform Hajj and Umrah. On one of these occasions, I joined a Turkish business delegation to the Kingdom and if I get another opportunity I would like to go back soon on a regional mission,” Bekta? said. Saudi and Gulf citizens, Bekta? said, living in very dry and desert areas would particularly enjoy spending their holidays in the green oasis of Kastamonu where they can find a variegated flora and fauna and a common cultural and religious heritage. “Our geographical landscape is particularly suitable for people coming from the Middle East and Arabian countries that lack green areas. Besides, Arab and Turkish people share long historical relations and easily mingle with each other whenever they visit each other's countries,” said Bekta?. Bekta? concluded his conference by stressing how central Anatolia is manifesting the capacity to find a balance between tradition and modernity, economic development, and conservation of traditional and old styles of life to become a perfect place for visitors from around the globe.
