Tourism in Turkey
Turkey is at the crossroads of different civilizations. Tourism in Turkey is focused largely on a variety of archaeological and historical sites, and on seaside resorts along its Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, has a number of major attractions derived from its historical status as capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. These include the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"), the Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace.
Major cultural and historical attractions elsewhere in the country include the Roman Empire sites of Ephesus and Troy, and the ruined cities and landscapes of Cappadocia.
Beach vacations, particularly for Turkish city-dwellers and visitors from Western Europe, are also central to the Turkish tourism industry. Most beach resorts are located along the southern Aegean coast, or along the Mediterranean coast near Antalya. Major resort towns include Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Kusadasi, and Alanya.
Foreign tourist arrivals increased substantially in Turkey between 2002 and 2004, from 12.8 million to 17.5 million. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism predicts approximately 21 million foreign tourist visits in 2005, which would make Turkey the eighth-busiest destination in the world for foreign visitors. 2005 revenues from foreign tourists are expected to be about US$17 billion.
Faith Tourism
Developments in the scope of technology,without an exemption of all national boundaries, bring people close together. Since the discovery of writing, perheps 9.000 or 10.000 years ago, certain places in the world were the grounds for close contacts among different cultures, civilizations and religions.
The foundations of the various ancient civilizations' on the lands of Anatolia, the settlement of the disples during the first quarter of Christianity in Anatolia or that of Jewish people who were subjected to the policy of annihilation in their homelands during the Mediaeval Ages inevitably provided the Anatolian region to embody various synagogues and churches besides the Islamic works of arts belonging to the Turkish nations.
The fact that these works of art that have attained to our times as a result of our nations' notion of respect and high esteem to other religions enable Turkey to gain an advantageous position among the other countries.
The evaluation of the interests of people to visit religious centers out of the consideration of regular fulfilments can be identified as Faith Tours in the scope of tourism phenomenon.
For more info: [1]
Silk Road
Silk industry, had taken a very important place of various nations from ancient times; and silk and spice coming from Far East, had played an important role for Western world in international relations. Silk is also maintained the identification of Eastern Culture by Western societies.
Transportation of silk and spice of east via caravans, is formed the commercial roads reaching to Europe from China. In Medieval Age, commercial caravans, had started to their voyages from today's Chinese Xian city, and reach to the Kashgar city of Uzbekistan; they were reaching to Hazar Sea from Afghanistan plains with following the first one of the roads separated into two there; and to Anatolia over Iran with climbing over Karakorum Mountains with other one. They were going to Europe via road over Thrace or via maritime lines from Anatolia.
In this commercial movement improving from east to west, a road network, used since previous ages, had been benefited. These thousands of kilometers long caravan roads, which allow cultural relations between continents besides dense transportation of silk, porcelain, paper, spice and jewelry, are named as "Silk Road" in the course of time.
Silk Road, beyond being a commercial road connecting Asia to Europe, is holding the signs of cultures, religions and races, who lived in the region for 2000 years, and serves an extraordinary history and cultural wealth. After gaining of independence of Middle Asia Turkish Republics, re - animation of silk road both as a commercial road and also a historical and cultural value is considered, and works for protection and existence of structures which are constructed throughout this road but not used today with giving them new functions, is commenced.
For more info: [2]
Thermal Resorts
Because Turkey is located on top of a major geothermal belt, it is among the top seven countries in the world for quality and quantity of thermal springs with over 1000, with temperatures ranging from 20ºC to 110ºC.
Most are in the Marmara and Aegean regions and because of their proximity to popular travel destinations such as Istanbul, Izmir, Pamukkale and Marmaris, public transport is easy. Many of Turkey’s historical places developed because of their springs, like the ancient city of Hieropolis which was built upon the rich mineral springs of Pamukkale, and the ancient Lydian city of Kaunos, whose people took baths in the rich mineral mud of Lake Koycegiz.
Cities with thermal resorts: Adana,Afyon,Amasya,Ankara,Balıkesir,Bingöl,Bolu,Bursa,Çanakkale,Denizli,Diyarbakır,Erzurum,Eskişehir,İzmir,Kırşehir,Konya,Kütahya,Manisa,Muğla,Nevşehir,Rize,Samsun,Siirt,Sivas,Yalova,Yozgat.
For more info: [3]
Winter Sports
The high altitude mountains of Turkey have made the country an important centre for winter tourism, and skiing is becoming increasingly popular. Ağrı - Bubi Mountain, Ankara - Elmadağ, Antalya - Saklıkent, Bingöl - Yolaçtı, Bitlis - Center, Bolu - Kartalkaya, Bursa - Uludağ, Elazığ - Sivrice - Hazarbaba, Erzincan - Bolkar, Erzurum - Palandöken, Gümüşhane - Zigana, Isparta - Davraz, İzmir - Ödemiş - Bozdağ, Kastamonu - Ilgaz, Kars - Sarıkamış, Kayseri - Erciyes.
For more info: [4]
Congress Tourism
History and Cultural heritage, Turkey is a door to amazing possibilities world. Turkey is a magnificent place for meetings, incentive and congresses where Europe and Asia meets.
Turkey is submitting richness of first class hotel, resort and conference facility, easily transportation to main cities of the world, beautiful decorations and unique panorama attraction. A perfect climate and lesser cost advantages compared to alternative destinations are added to all of these.
Turkey is an ideal destination with its being near to European countries and its exoticness. It is possible to reach ıstanbul within two or three hours via Turkish Airlines or other national airlines with transfer connection to İzmir, Antalya and Ankara and direct flight possibility.
Daily flights are connecting Istanbul to main cities of United States of America, Middle East and Asia. City tours and amusement programs can be organized within a package. Its unrivalled decor and richness of architectural heritages, Istanbul is within the biggest tourism destinations of the world. With its palm trees and ancient ruins, İzmir is the door of Aegean region. Sweet coastal summer places such as Kuşadası, Marmaris, Bodrum and Fethiye are very good choices for sales, meetings and incentive. Antalya, Mersin and Mediterranean's coastal summer places, are the attraction places of visitors during all of the year with sun, beautiful sand beaches and ancient historical places. Capital city of Turkey, Ankara is and important center with easy transport to great hotels and restaurants, magnificent rock churches and underground cities panorama having legendary Cappadocia. First capital city of Ottoman Empire, Bursa is serving a dazzling panorama, thermal bathed hotels and perfect skiing possibilities in Uludağ.
Turkey has all kinds of equipment for organizing all kinds and sized of meetings, incentive and conference with appropriate comfort and style today. Traditional Turkish hospitality, high quality national food and wines, endless amusement and voyage possibilities are the guaranties of echoing success of all congresSound to be organized in Turkey.
For more info on congress centers: [5]
Yachting
The azure waters of the Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara and Black Sea surround Turkey to the south, west and north, making a treasure chest of coves, inlets, bays and beaches in which yachtsmen can choose a different and private anchorage each night.
The sailing paradise of Turkey is also home to the Mavi Yolculuk, or Blue Voyage, an idyllic cruise which travels to the private beach of Cleopatra, the eternal fires of Mount Olimpos and the remains of thousands of ancient civilisations.
Sailing in Turkey also allows visitors to experience the hospitality of the people in the coastal villages and towns. The tempered winds blowing from west and northwest make the long summers ideal for yachting, and seem to encourage an appreciation of nature. From some of the turquoise coast's unspoilt and sheltered bays you can see mountain peaks rising to almost 3000 meters above sea level.
For more info on Marinas, Gulettes, Yacht Operators, Yacht Voyages, Yachting Service Submitting Tourism Agencies, Some Regulations on Using Foreign Flagged Yachts in Turkish Waters, Docking Capacities According to Regions and Blue Flag Campaign: [6]
Mountaineering
Turkey presents mountains lovers with an incredible variety of interesting climbing opportunities that are sure to satisfy the most demanding hikers, climbers, and winter sports fans. In Turkey, mountains come in all sizes, geo-morphological and tectonic structures and boast abundant wildlife and forests teeming with diverse flora and fauna. Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world come to Turkey for winter sports (especially skiing), mountains climbing and hiking.
Types of Mountains and Important Mountains in Turkey:
Popular Climbing Sites
- Ağrı - Mount Ararat
- Antalya - Beydağları
- Kastamonu - Ilgaz and Küre Mountains
- Kayseri - Mount Erciyes
- Mersin - Bolkar Mountains
- Niğde Aladağlar
- Rize - Kaçkar Mountain Range
- Tunceli - Mercan (Munzur) Mountains
- Van - Süphan Mountain
For more info: [7]
Hunting
Geographic structure of Turkey, is appropriate for development of hunt tourism in connection with its plant cover and wild life. Hunting grounds, which will be opened to hunting tourism, with considering the hunting animals potential of our country, are determined and announced by Ministry of Forests (National Parks, Hunting and Wild Life General Directorate). Foreign tourist hunters, can hunt with Hunting Tousim Permission Certificate, issued to A Class Tourism Agencies by Ministry of Forest. Also, foreign tourist hunters can only hunt species, breed and set free here within private hunting grounds approved by Ministry of Forest, National Parks and Hunt - wild Life General Directorate.
Foreign tourist hunters, who can hunt by means of Tourism Agencies, according to the related decision of MAK (Central Hunt Commission) and regulation related with the application of 6136 Numbered Law, can bring their hunting guns and accessories together with them.
In Hunting Permission Certificates; name, surname, nationality of the hunter who will participate hunting party, dates and customs offices, when and where he will enter and exit our country, hunting grounds, dates of hunt and hunting animal species and numbers that he can hunt, are mentioned.
For more info on Hunting Animals Allowed for Hunting in Turkey, Tourism Agencies Organizing Hunting Tours, Hunting & Marksmanship Clubs and Contact Address and Links: [8]