Turkey's Şırnak province aims to become a tourist hub with its historical and cultural riches

A southeastern Turkish city that has been for years overshadowed by terrorism, wants to become a tourist hub with its historical and cultural riches. After being cleared of terrorism, Şırnak province waits to show its richness to visitors with its historical, cultural and religious sites, including Finik (Pinaka) archeological site and castle, Ulu (Grand) Mosque, Red Madrasah, tombs of Prophet Noah, Mem-u Zin and Ismail Ebul-Iz. Şırnak University professor Sedat Çelik told Anadolu Agency that local institutions conduct projects with a development agency to change the negative perception regarding the region. 'This is one of the places that people need to visit. Not much people know about here,' Çelik said. As part of the projects, visitors come from neighboring cities and visit different parts of the city each week to introduce new routes to tourism. 'With these projects, we will introduce here both to the world and our country,' he said, adding that the province will invite domestic and foreign tourists to Şırnak. The visitors first visit Cehennem Deresi, or Hell's Creek, region, an attractive natural site located between Idil and Güçlükonak districts. Ayşegül Ilhan, one of the visitors, said she came from Batman province for trekking and to discover natural sceneries in the region. 'This region is so beautiful. We want the nature of Şırnak to be discovered,' said Ilhan. Akif Özek said he wants the region to become a tourist hub. 'Nature here is wonderful and people visiting here are amazed.' Visitor Murat Sönmez, said: 'Actually, Hell's Creek is a part of heaven. We invite foreign tourists to the region as well.'