Grand Bazzar outdoing all rival

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar continues to be the most visited covered bazaar anywhere in the world, drawing more visitors than any modern or ancient shopping facility, according to the head of the Grand Bazaar Artisans Association. "It was established 550 years ago and is the world's first and largest bazaar. There is no other bazaar in the world with 3,600 places of businesses. There are 1,200 places of business in [in a large shopping center] in the United States," said the association's chairman, Hasan Firat. "The Grand Bazaar cannot be compared with a shopping mall because it has historical and cultural value as well as the traditions and customs of artisans in it. The bazaar "was the most visited place in the world this year," Firat said, adding that it has been maintaining its importance in economy even though the number of shops catering to tourists had increased. One thing that is unique about the Grand Bazaar is that fiduciary shopping still continues at the facility, Firat said, noting that it was difficult to find such a system of transactions anywhere else in the world.