A "Tourism Conference" will take place in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir to promote the province on May 2-3.

Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DTSO), municipality and provincial culture and tourism directorate general will organize the conference.

DTSO Chairman Galip Ensarioglu told the A.A on Wednesday that Diyarbakir had a 5,000-year history.

Ensarioglu said they aimed to increase the number of tourists visiting Diyarbakir, stating that the province which had a great potential in the congress, culture, faith and thermal tourism could attract more tourists.

Diyarbakir is one of important cities in Turkey, situated on the banks of the River Dicle. It is nicknamed "The Paris of the East". The city is surrounded by a dramatic and fully intact set of black basalt walls, first constructed in 297, extending in a 5.5 km circle around the old city.

Diyarbakir boasts numerous medieval mosques and madrassahs, crowned by the 11th Century Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) constructed by alternating bands of blacks basalt and limestone.


AA