Both domestic and foreign tourists visit the city where Mevlana and Şems lived and where their tombs are located. While stating that foreign tourists, especially from the US, are interested in the universal messages of Mevlana, Konya Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Mustafa Çıpan told the Anatolia news agency that the two novels help people understand Mevlana and Şems.“The novels increased visits to the tomb of Şems-i Tebrizi. Also, the type of tourists visiting the city for Mevlana has also changed. Now, enthusiastic and young readers come to the city more than before. Elif Şafak and Ahmet Ümit attended events held in Konya in December [to commemorate the anniversary of Mevlana’s death]. We plan to organize various other activities with their participation. New novels about Mevlana and Şems may be released in the future. We care about those novels because they increase the number of tourists visiting Konya,” Çıpan said.
One of the visitors to Şems’ tomb, Şengül Arslan, said she came to Konya to visit the burial site. “I was already interested in Mevlana and Şems. But especially after reading ‘The Forty Rules of Love,’ I was enchanted once more. The book triggered my interest in Mevlana and Şems. … I came here especially for Şems. I felt a great energy when I stepped in his türbe [shrine]; I stayed there for three hours.”
Arslan said she was excited and thrilled after entering the shrine and that she was affected by the spiritual atmosphere inside the shrine. “Many people asked me to organize another tour to Konya after I shared my opinions about Şems and photos on social networking Web sites.”
