Soap opera takes the world by storm – but what does this mean for Turkey’s culture and tourism sector?

The world is having a love affair with Turkish soap operas. It may sound strange, but, in fact, the export of Turkish soap operas is set to hit $1 billion by 2023. And if you’ve ever stumbled across “Magnificent Century” Turkish soap opera, you’ll understand why there’s such an interest!

 

Magnificent Century is one of the most popular Turkish soap opera’s widely watched in the Arab world and Eastern Europe.

 

The 2011 soap opera was based on the life of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent and ran for four seasons and gathered an audience across 47 countries. It’s filled with cunning dialogue, epic costumes and some educational history about the Ottoman era.

But what if Turkey’s top producers and directors got together and went deeper into Turkish history and started to explore storylines from the Roman Empire? This could be set in the ruins of ancient towns like Ephesus, Antioch, Myra and other cities along the Turkish Riveria where coastal ports attracted an exciting array of life: trading sailors, wealthy merchants, fleeing slaves and rare goods.

But what if Turkey’s top producers and directors got together and went deeper into Turkish history and started to explore storylines from the Roman Empire?

This could be set in the ruins of ancient towns like Ephesus, Antioch, Myra and other cities along the Turkish Riveria where coastal ports attracted an exciting array of life: trading sailors, wealthy merchants, fleeing slaves and rare goods.

But it seems I’m not alone in my hope to marry the best of Turkish soap opera and historical tourism. In fact, a recent Reuters article shows how one Arab Turk is doing just that:

‘Abet, a travel agency owner, had an idea that a soap opera set in the Mediterranean province of Antalya might lure Arab tourists. He has since become a backer of the Turkish-Arab co-produced series, and its unlikely star. With a budget of $3 million, “Big House” began airing this week on TRT Al Arabiya, the Arabic language channel of Turkey’s state broadcaster. Abet thinks its 30-episode run during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan can boost Antalya’s visibility and arrest a sharp decline in tourism.’

Maybe there is a chance to pitch a series from the ancient cities of the Roman period? Leave your comments below and let me know! #History #Tourism #Antioch #Myra #Turkey #AncientRome