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 Introduction to Turkey Turkey's tourist industry is centred around Istanbul, Ankara and the resorts of the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, and it is here that the majority of modern hotels are to be found. The inland regions of Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Konya are now being developed for tourism, but outside these regions Turkey's heartland has little to offer in the way of good hotels. Wherever you go in Turkey you can always find cheap places to stay, but the standard of accommodation sometimes varies greatly. One thing you won't have to suffer in Turkey are the rows of unsightly hotels which mar the coastlines of so many Mediterranean resorts. One of the country's main selling points, apart from its guaranteed summer sunshine, is the friendliness of the Turks themselves. Whether you're touring the country or staying in one place, you'll always be greeted with warmth and hospitality.Turkey has more than five thousand miles of coastline, but the best beaches are found in the south and south-west on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. This section of the coastline, with its white sandy beaches, secluded coves and crystal-clear blue sea, is undoubtedly one of the country's major assets. Resorts like Bodrum, Kusadasi, Marmaris, Antalya and Alanya, which are already popular with tourists from the UK and the USA, are expected to witness a tourist boom during the next few years as more and more tour operators recognize their potential for sailing, watersports and beach holidays. The Black Sea coast is attractive, but lacks the amenities of the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
To see Turkey as it really is, you have to move away from the coastal resorts - only then can you begin to experience the diversity of this vast country. Some of the most spectacular scenery can be found in the inland region of south-west Turkey, where the mountains and lush green valleys provide a haven for nature-lovers, and in Cappadocia, famous for its incredible rock formations and underground cities. In eastern Anatolia life goes on pretty much the way it did a hundred years ago, and the austere and unsophisticated lifestyle of the Turkish peasants comes as a sharp contrast to the gaiety and liveliness of the up-and-coming tourist resorts. In the centre of Turkey's modern capital Ankara you'll find few buildings more than fifty years old, while in contrast Istanbul stands as a monument to many past civilizations, which have shaped her into one of the world's most exciting cities.
As far as the country's culture is concerned, you must learn to expect the unexpected. Just as you're becoming used to the modern Western lifestyle you'll encounter some ancient Eastern custom. The country's present culture is a direct result of the reforms introduced by the national hero Kemal Ataturk when he founded the Turkish Republic in 1923. But there are still numerous reminders of Turkey's 10,000-year-long history, and the influence of past eras is very much in evidence. For centuries, the country's geographical position between Europe and Asia made it a battleground for the Roman and Byzantine invaders from the west, and the Seljuk and Ottoman Turks who originated from Central Asia.
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Full country name: Republic of Turkey
Area: 779,452 sq km
Population: 72.1 million
Capital City: Ankara
People: Turks (85%), Kurds (12%), 3% other Islamic peoples, Armenians, Jews
Language: Turkish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek, Kurdish
Religion: Muslim (Sunni)
Government: republican parliamentary democracy
Head of State: President Abdullah Gul
Head of Government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
GDP: US$183.7 billion
GDP per capita: US$2,490
Annual Growth: -5%
Inflation: 26%
Major Industries: Textiles, food processing, tourism, motor vehicles, mining, lumber, petroleum, construction
Major Trading Partners: Germany, USA, Italy, UK, France, Russia
Member of EU: No
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