Tourism in Turkey

Unlimited Offerings, Unmatched Affordability

 

Turkey, a country of nearly 80 million, has been home to countless cultures and empires over the millennia. Due in large part to its rich past, today Turkey is one of the top ten countries in terms of tourist arrivals and revenues. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 28.6 million people visited in 2010, an increase of nearly 6% over 2009. Its goal is to be among the top five tourism-driven countries, a big challenge given the priority that tourism is receiving from governments worldwide. Turkey’s focus on the sector is driven in part by the significant impact that tourism has on its economy—contributing approximately $22 billion to GDP in 2010. In fact, tourism is so important that the government provides subsidies to local authorities to boost their tourism offerings. Over the past year, this support increased eightfold.

 

Developing the country’s tourism infrastructure is equally important, because preserving the country’s historical sites, arts, architecture, dance, music, food and more “helps protect and promote our rich culture,” says Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertuğrul Günay.

 

Diverse Tourism Offerings
Günay says Turkey has something that most other destinations don’t: a unique combination of culture, history, geography, themed-tourism options and facilities—in addition to affordability. “The richness and diversity of Turkey’s offerings makes us preferable and privileged in the whole world,” he says.

Visitors will find no shortage of enjoyable experiences, from relaxation at sun, sea and sand resorts, gastronomic adventures and World Heritage Sites to thousand-year-old historic buildings, whirling Dervish performances and classical concerts. The country’s geographic diversity presents natural beauty for any taste, from sandy coastlines, pine forests and snow-capped mountains to majestic rivers and some of the most amazing geologic formations on earth. Meanwhile, its rich history affords myriad cultural and faith tourism options.

Several Holidays in One
As Günay notes, “While most tourism services lead people to a destination according to their habits, Turkish tourism aims to arouse curiosity and offer visitors new things.”

Günay adds that most visitors to Turkey come for the sun and beaches, but says, “This is something we are trying to change. We have so many memorable destinations for culture, faith, hiking, sports, etc. Our main specialty is that you get to experience the sea, culture, entertainment, health and shopping, all at the same time.”

 

Health Tourism in Focus

Turkey is promoting its health tourism sector—an opportunity to leverage its springs and mud baths, alongside its deluxe resorts and its existing healthcare industry. And, as with all its tourism offerings, multiple price points play a role in the appeal. “We offer services to visitors looking for affordably priced health tourism options, as well as those who want to be pampered in luxurious five-star hotels, spas and thermal centers. The only thing that does not change is the high quality,” says Günay.

 

In fact, Turkey hosted the Third International Health Tourism Conference in 2010, and the fourth annual event will be held in Istanbul this October.

 

The Land of the Bazaar

The country’s location at the crossroads of continents and trade routes has given Turkey a legacy of unmatched shopping.

 

The Grand Bazaar is arguably the most famous market on the planet, “the best in the whole world,” Günay is not shy to say. What’s more, it is being restored in order to enhance its attraction as the premier place for carpets, jewelry, spices and handmade crafts.

 

Günay also mentions Bursa as a great shopping destination—one that perfectly epitomizes Turkey’s diversity. This city boasts beautiful mosques and other early Ottoman architecture; an authentic traditional market famous for its silk products; thermal spas; and the 8,300-foot Uludag mountain for hiking and skiing.

 

Promoting Mutual Understanding

As “the cradle of many civilizations,” Turkey allows visitors to “see the brotherhood of religions,” says Günay. “By seeing different cultures and religions together, people better understand that we can live together without religious and racial segregation. Tourism is one of the most important sectors for world peace, and Turkey brings all religions together, satisfying people’s curiosity and correcting their misperceptions. In our land, people from different religions get to know each other and start to respect each other.”

 

One Visit Isn’t Enough
Ultimately, whether through advertising to potential visitors or communicating with those already in Turkey for vacation, Günay says the industry’s main objective is to make people realize that there is so much to see and do that a single visit can never suffice. “After each visit your curiosity will grow, and you will be eager to come again. In the end, visiting Turkey will be your habit and need, while each place you haven’t seen will be a loss.”