Here’s what’s in store for Capital of Culture Istanbul for 2010. By Katherine Lawrey

In 2008 Istanbul received seven million visitors. Before the global crisis, the city’s target for 2010 was 10 million – and although other European nations have suffered a drop in visitors numbers, the tourist office said it was on track to meet this target, thanks to the city being named European Capital of Culture for 2010.

Hakan Citik, tourism and promotion specialist, Istanbul 2010, said: “Istanbul’s average annual growth before the economic crisis was 12-13%. This year it dropped to 2-3% but that growth is still positive, which is better than some of our European neighbours.”

Citik said that the European Capital of Culture status had driven hotel growth in the city: “Next year we will have more than 100,000 beds in the city.”

The average length of stay for a tourist in the city was 2.3 days, Citik added, but the aim was to increase that to three or four days. “The average spend per tourist per stay is currently $750 and we hope to increase that to $1,000 by the end of 2010 by enticing tourists to stay for longer.

If so, the Istanbul tourism industry would generate $10 billion a year.”

He urged UK agents to start promoting the European Capital of Culture as the ideal opportunity to visit Istanbul, saying: “Istanbul is a big cultural city, there is so much to see and do, and this special year will provide even more in the way of events, exhibitions, visual arts and sightseeing. Istanbul next year will be the most exciting city break in the world.”

Arts and culture

• “Lives and Works in Istanbul” is an art project that will bring 10 of Europe’s leading artists and Istanbul’s young talent together to work in a shared space.

• A brand new museum, the Museum of Innocence, is to open in spring or summer. It will use poetry and video footage to explore life in Istanbul from the 1850s to present day.

• A series of free open-air concerts is planned through “On the Way to 2010”. Performances of styles including classical music, jazz and Turkish folk music will take place around the city.

• Istanbul will host the world premiere of Freedom of Prometheus as part of the European Universities’ Theatre Festival in 2010

• There will also be the city’s second International Ballet Contest.

Urban facelift

• Two 18th-century monuments, the Molla Murat Library and Naz Perver Kalfa School, are already being restored.

• The Far Eastern porcelain collection – considered the largest collection outside China – at Topkapi Palace and the Topkapi Palace kitchens will get a facelift.

• Mosaics and ceiling-paintings at Hagia Sophia Museum will be restored.

• Süleymaniye Mosque Complex, built in the 1550s, will be restored. An Institute and Library for Calligraphy   and Manuscripts is also to be created there.

• The Ataturk Culture Centre in Taksim Square which houses Istanbul’s opera and ballet companies and the State Theatre Company will get a makeover.