Turkey

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, Troy, Pergamon, House of Virgin Mary 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 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.

Ski resorts

Bursa – Uludag, Bolu-Kartalkaya, Erzurum-Palandoken, Kayseri – Erciyes, Antalya – Saklikent, Kars – Sarikamis, Ankara – Elmadag, llgaz Dagi, Zigana – Gumushane, Erzurum – Palandöken, Erzincan – Bolkar, Agri – Bubi, Bingöl – Kurucadag, Zigana – Gumushane

Beach resorts

Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Fethiye, Hisaronu & Ovacik, Icmeler, Izmir, Marmaris, Olu Deniz, Patara Beach; Olu Deniz Beach, near Fethiye; Gemile Bay Beach, near Fethiye; Turtle [Iztuzu] Beach, Dalyan; Çalis Beach, near Fethiye; Kas; Kaputas Beach, near Kalkan & Kas; Ladies Beach and Kustur Beach, Kusadasi; Içmeler Beach, Marmaris Bay; Cleopatra's Beach, Alanya; Side Beaches, Side; Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus island Ayvalik, Dalyan, Datca, Gelibolu Peninsula, Kusadasi, Marmaris, Olu Deniz, Patara

Spa resorts

Richmond Nua Wellness Spa, Hillside Su Hotel, Antalya; Hillside Beach Club, Mugla; Ilica Hotel Spa & Wellness Resort, Gloria Verde Resort & Spa, Cesme Ilica Hotel, Natur - Med Thermal Springs and Cureclinic, Herakles Thermal Center , Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal, Swissotel the Bosphorus Wellness Center Spa , Thermal Princess Hotel Izmir, Sheraton Voyager, Six Senses Spa at Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay, Vaha Spa, Gloria golf resort Hotel, Hillside Ma Biche Hotel, Turkiz Hotel, Colossae Thermal Hotel, Richmond Thermal Hotel , Tutav Thermal Hotel, Gonen Kaplicalari, Ikbal Thermal Hotel, Orucoglu Thermal Resort, Yalova Thermal Hotel, Thermal Fish Springs, Delphin Palace and Spa Hotel, Kempinski Hotel The Dome

Golf regions

Belek: Antalya Golf Club, Gloria Golf Resort, Nobilis Golf Otel, National Golf Club, Tat International Golf Club, Cornelia Nick Faldo Golf Course; Istanbul: Klassis Golf and Country, Kemer Golf & Country Club; Marmaris: Golf Village ; Robinson Golf Club Nobilis,