The 500-year-old Zeyrek Çinili Hamam in Istanbul, built by Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, has reopened after a 13-year closure. The hamam, known for its stunning Iznik tiles, will first serve as an exhibition venue before reopening as a public bath in 2024. The restoration project includes a contemporary art space, a museum showcasing Roman, Ottoman, and Byzantine artifacts, and an urban garden. The hamam aims to preserve Istanbul's historic sites and contribute to the cultural tourism of the Zeyrek neighborhood.
Street festivals, such as Spain's tomato-throwing festival and London's Notting Hill Carnival, have become major tourism draws, pillars of the economy, and job creators for local communities. Cultural tourism, which includes festivals, accounts for 40% of all tourism worldwide and has created millions of jobs globally. Popular festivals like Rio de Janeiro Carnival and Oktoberfest in Munich generate significant economic impact for their regions. Other upcoming festivals worth traveling to this year include Mid-Autumn Festival in China, Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico, Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico, Diwali in India, and Yi Peng & Loy Krathong Lantern Festivals in Thailand.
