The number of museums in Türkiye increased by 6.4% in 2022, according to a statement by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) on Thursday.

The number of museums in Türkiye stood at 552 in 2022, up from 519 in 2021. Of these, 211 were affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and 341 were in the category of private museums. The number of ruins was 144.

The number of works in museums also increased in 2022, by 0.8% to 3 million 750 thousand 120. Of these, 3 million 325 thousand 643 were in museums affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and 424 thousand 477 were in private museums.

The number of visitors to museums and ruins also increased significantly in 2022, by 97.1% to 45 million 822 thousand 525. Of these, 67.5% visited museums and ruins affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The total income from paid visits to museums and ruins affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was 1 billion 76 million 7 thousand 587 TRY. The number of museum cards sold by the Ministry was 2 million 930 thousand 232.

The number of immovable cultural properties in Türkiye also increased in 2022, by 2.4% to 122 thousand 124. The province with the most immovable cultural assets was Istanbul with 33 thousand 479, followed by Izmir with 7 thousand 899 and Muğla with 4 thousand 896.

The total number of protected areas in Türkiye increased by 6.3% to 23 thousand 632 in 2022. Of these, 96.9% were archaeological sites.

The number of national parks in Türkiye increased by 4.3% to 48 in 2022, while the national park area increased by 0.3% to 911 thousand 204 hectares. The number of nature parks increased by 0.4% to 261, while the area of the nature park decreased by 1.2% to 108 thousand 332 hectares. The number of nature reserves remained unchanged compared to the previous year and became 31, while the number of natural monuments decreased by 0.9% to 113. (ILKHA)