From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

—

Economy of Turkey
Tourism Companies Istanbul Stock Exchange(ISE) Companies listed on ISE Turkish new lira Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey European Union-Turkey Customs Union Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline(BTC) Southeastern Anatolia Project Foreign purchases of real estate in Turkey
Other Turkish Topics
Culture - Education Geography - History - Politics Turkey Portal

Tourism in Turkey is focused largely on a variety of archaeological and historical sites, and on seaside resorts along its Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. In the recent years, Turkey is also becoming a popular destination for the SPA and health care tourism.

Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, has a number of major attractions derived from its huge historical status as capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. These include the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"), the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, the Dolmabahce Palace, the Galata Tower, the Grand Bazaar, and the Pera Palas. Istanbul has also recently became one of the biggest shopping centers of European region by hosting malls and shopping centers like Metrocity, Akmerkez and Cevahir Mall(which is the biggest mall in Europe and second largest shopping center in the world).

Major cultural and historical attractions elsewhere in the country include the sites of Ephesus, Troy, Pergamon, House of Virgin Mary, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Konya (where the poet Rumi had spent most of his life), Didyma, Church of Antioch, religious places in Mardin (such as Deyrülzafarân Monastery), 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 southwestern and southern Aegean coast, especially along the Mediterranean coast near Antalya. Antalya is also accepted as the tourism capital of Turkey. Major resort towns include Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Kuşadası, Cesme, Didim and Alanya.

Foreign tourist arrivals increased substantially in Turkey between 2002 and 2005, from 12.8 million to 21.2 million, which made Turkey a top-10 destination in the world for foreign visitors. 2005 revenues are US$17.5 billion which also made Turkey the top-10 biggest revenue owners in the world.

• Year - Arrivals (in millions)

• 1998 - 9.75
• 1999 - 7.46
• 2000 - unknown
• 2001 - 10.4
• 2002 - 12.8
• 2003 - 13.3
• 2004 - 16.8
• 2005 - 21.2
• 2006 -19.8

• Culture of Turkey
• Istanbul
• İzmir
• Antalya
• Marmaris
• Fethiye
• Oludeniz
• Kemer
• Bodrum
• Kuşadası
• Alanya

v • d • e Turkey-related topics
People | Biographies	Turkic peoples · Turkish people · People of Turkey | Atatürk · İsmet İnönü · Bülent Ecevit
History	Sultanate of Rûm · Anatolian Turkish Beyliks · Ottoman Empire (Rise • Growth • Stagnation • Decline • Dissolution) · Republican history (War of Independence • Single-party period • Multi-party period) · Military history · Constitutional history · Economic history · Timeline
Politics and government	Republic of Turkey · President · Prime Minister · Parliament · Political parties · Elections · Foreign relations · Military · Secularism
Legal system	Constitution · Constitutional Court · Law enforcement
Geography | Tourism	Anatolia · Regions · Provinces · Districts · Cities · Environment · Mountains · Islands · Rivers | Turkish Riviera
Economy | Transport	Industries · Companies · Stock Exchange · Central Bank · Banks · EU Customs Union · Southeastern Anatolia Project · New lira | Railways · Aviation
Demographics	Turkish language · Education · Religion · Turkish diaspora · Immigration · Human rights
Culture	Architecture · Art · Cinema · Cuisine · Dance · Festivals · Folklore · Holidays · Literature · Music · Sport · Theatre
Media	Newspapers · Radio stations · Television
Symbols	Emblem · Flag · National anthem
Turkey portal

• Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism
• Healthcare in Turkey
• Medical Tourism in Turkey
• Turkey Destination Guide
• Turkey Tourism Help Portal