Skip to main content

Turkey's tourism renaissance

The number of tourists visiting Turkey has risen from 1.6 million to 39.2 million in three decades, placing it sixth among the world’s most popular destinations.
DENIZLI, TURKEY:  Tourists enjoy the travertine pools in Pamukkale visited by thousands every year located 20 kilometers from the town of Denizli nearby ancient city Hierapolis western Turkey, 19 August 2004. Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) is a white cascade from sources containing chalky water which formed stalactites, basins and terraces. The calcium-rich water is renown for its healing qualities for eye and skin diseases, for softening rheumatism, asthma and dermatitis crisis. Today is not allowed any more to
Read in 

Revitalizing Turkey’s tourism sector was one of the major achievements of late Prime Minister Turgut Ozal, the man who dominated Turkish politics in the 1980s. Ozal, who would often make public appearances clad in shorts and a T-shirt, sped up investment in the tourism sector at a time when Turkey was toiling to sustain its fragile economy, unaware that its natural beauty, history, sea and sunshine could be also marketed. Driven by the build-operate-transfer model and lucrative incentives, five-star hotels and holiday villages sprang up on Turkey’s coasts. “Industry without chimneys” became the memorable slogan of the sector.

In 2011, the new mentality and physical infrastructure culminated in Turkey becoming the world’s sixth most popular tourist destination after France, the United States, China, Spain and Italy.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.