Afyonkarahisar
Afyon's Roman marble quarries and thermal springs merged into Turkey's wellness capital—2026's 9% projected tourism growth tests whether ancient authenticity scales without dilution.
Afyonkarahisar exists because geology concentrated two resources in one location: marble and thermal springs. Romans developed marble quarries here; Emperor Justinian specified Afyon marble for Hagia Sophia. The same tectonic activity that created extractable stone also heated groundwater. For two millennia, these complementary resources reinforced each other—marble for baths, hot springs for bathing.
The province leveraged this dual inheritance into modern industrial-tourism economy. Afyon ranks second in Turkey for processed marble exports and fourth in travertine, shipping to 120 countries. Simultaneously, seven distinct thermal areas treat rheumatic, dermatological, and circulatory conditions. The İkbal Thermal Hotel has appeared in Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards for five consecutive years (2020-2025). Matador Network named Turkey the Best Wellness Destination for 2025, with Afyonkarahisar among the most prominent thermal clusters.
The growth trajectory follows global wellness trends. Wellness tourists made over 1 billion trips in 2023; the 2024-2029 projected growth rate is 9.1% annually. Afyon captures this demand with a combination unavailable elsewhere: authentically ancient thermal traditions, medical spa infrastructure, and scenic highland setting that differentiates it from coastal resorts.
**By 2026**, Afyonkarahisar will test whether historic thermal towns can scale without losing authenticity. Turkey ranks seventh globally in thermal resources but first in Europe—a positioning that attracts wellness-seeking Europeans avoiding long-haul flights. Whether the province can absorb 9% annual growth while maintaining the medical-spa credibility that differentiates it from generic resort development depends on infrastructure investment and regulatory quality control.