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Noah’s Ark promotes ethical tourism in
Kurdistan
4.7.2006
By Vladimir van Wilgenburg, Journalist, Netherlands |
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Kurdistan-Turkey
, --Noah’s Ark Holidays started a website in
partnership with the Dogubayazit city council.
Mukaddes Kubilay, the DTP mayor of Beyazîd promised
in May, that they would improve tourism in the
Kurdish city. She said that she held negotiations
with English companies to represent the district and
the historical places.
And it’s clear she held her promise. This year, the
website Noah’s Ark Holiday started to promote the
ancient Kurdish city of Beyazîd (Dogubayazit). The
website is not promoting it as a Turkish town, but
as a Kurdish town inside Turkey. The city is
well-known for the ancient mountain Ararat.
According to the website, the famous Ark of Noach is
located on this mountain. Mountain Ararat is also
known among Kurds as the birthplace of the Ararat
republic and the Ararat rebellion. But this isn’t
mentioned on the website.
It’s clear that the Kurdish identity is promoted on
the website. It promotes the newly restored Ishak
Pasa palace, which is named after a Kurdish
chieftain named Ishak. Another important feature is
the also recently restored 18th century tomb of the
legendary Kurdish writer and poet Ehmedê Xanî, whom
wrote the important Kurdish love story "Mem û Zîn”.
The website even states that the majority of the
town’s residents are Kurds. According to the
website, the majority of 20 million Kurds in Turkey
speak Kurdish. It even tell it’s readers, that Kurds
in Beyazîd celebrate Newroz every year. Also
traditional Kurdish songs are included for the
curious ear.
”It has been motivated and inspired by Dogubayazit
Council to develop tourism in a way that is socially
and environmentally responsible and of benefit to
the people of the town” states the website.
A part of the paid money by tourists will go to
local projects such as the women’s health centre and
women’s carpet making collective. The website also
encourages the use of basic Kurdish words and
phrases “to open up opportunities for you to meet
people who live there”.
It also encourages buying locally made goods and use
locally provided services “wherever possible your
support is often vital to local people”. The website
also explains the cultural background of Beyazîd and
other ethical advises for visiting the Kurdish
region.
This website is really well designed and informs
foreign visitors well. Even I am encouraged to visit
Beyazîd for just £775. I hope this project will be a
success and an inspiration for more Kurdish cities
to develop tourism in the troubled Kurdish region.
Everybody is advised to take a look to the website,
even when you don’t have to money to travel to
Kurdistan.
Visit the website here:
Noah’s Ark Holidays.
Source:
http://vladimirkurdistan.blogspot.com
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey) wikipedia
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