Turkey: İhsaniye Targets Visitor Growth with Thermal Tourism, the Phrygian Way and New Experiences

Turkey

The historic district near Afyonkarahisar is focusing on culture, nature and events to further expand tourism in 2026

The historically rich district of İhsaniye is aiming to significantly increase visitor numbers in 2026. Key pillars of the tourism strategy include investments led by the provincial administration, a thermal hotel infrastructure offering around 13,000 beds, and the 25-kilometre-long Phrygian Way stretching between the town of Döğer and the village of Ayazini.

Phrygian Heritage and Nature Experiences

İhsaniye is regarded as one of the region’s main tourism growth drivers. In addition to archaeological sites in the Phrygian Valley, the Emre Lake and the diverse landscapes between Ayazini and Döğer continue to attract growing numbers of visitors. Alongside sightseeing, hot air balloon flights over Emre Lake are offered, adding a distinctive experience to the destination’s portfolio.

Goal: Doubling Visitor Numbers

District Governor Koray Yanıktepe has described İhsaniye as a “rising star of Afyonkarahisar tourism.” Referring to the area’s history, he noted that the Phrygians lived in the region around 3,000 years ago and left behind numerous monuments. Preserving this heritage, raising awareness of it and conveying the region’s history to visitors are central objectives.

According to local figures, more than one million visitors have already been recorded in the village of Ayazini alone. Combined with monuments such as Aslantaş, Yılantaş and Maltaş, fairy chimneys, castles, as well as natural attractions including Emre Lake and the thermal facilities in Gazlıgöl and Yaylabağı, total visitor numbers are estimated to have exceeded two million in 2025. For 2026, the target is to double that figure.

Events Every Weekend

To further strengthen tourism momentum, a wide range of activities is planned for 2026. Yanıktepe announced a stronger focus on high-quality weekend programmes aimed at families, designed to appeal to both residents and visitors.

Planned events include open-air cinemas, theatre performances, workshops, children’s activities, festivals, concerts and national-level sporting events. The aim is to offer attractive programmes every weekend throughout the summer. Two hot air balloons are already operating regularly around Emre Lake and welcoming guests.

Municipal Projects with Strong Support

The local municipality is also backing the expansion. Mayor Emine Gökçe referred to talks with ministries and close cooperation with the governor’s office and district administration. Substantial support has been secured for planned tourism projects, which are set to be implemented in 2026. The goal is to attract both domestic and international visitors to the region’s thermal springs and Phrygian cultural landscape, significantly boosting visitor numbers.

By combining cultural heritage, thermal tourism and new event formats, İhsaniye aims to further strengthen its position as an attractive tourism destination within the province of Afyonkarahisar.