About Turkey
 
Turkey is a paradise of sun, sea, mountains, and lakes that offers the vacationer a complete change from the stress and routine of everyday life. From March to November, Turkey offers the ideal climate that is perfect for relaxing on sandy beaches or enjoying the tranquillity of mountains and lakes. Turkey also has a magnificent past, and is a land full of historic treasures from 13 successive civilizations spanning 10,000 years. Even if you spend only a short time in Turkey, you can see a lot of this great past.

Country Profile

The lands of Turkey are located at a point where the three continents making up the old world. Asia, Africa and Europe are closest to each other, and straddle the point where Europe and Asia meet. Geographically, the country is located in the northern half of the hemisphere at a point that is about halfway between the equator and the north pole, at a longitude of 36 degrees N to 42 degrees N and a latitude of 26 degrees E to 45 degrees E.Turkey is roughly rectangular in shape and is 1,660 kilometres wide. Because of its geographical location the mainland of Anatolia has always found favour throughout history, and is the birthplace of many great civilizations. It has also been prominent as a centre of commerce because of its land connections to three continents and the sea surrounding it on three sides.

Points worth noting about Turkey

• Over 25 million tourists, mainly from Western Europe visit Turkey annually, bringing the country an estimated $19 billion in revenue, according to the Turkish Association of Travel Agents.
• Turkey has a population of 70 million, of which 65% are under 35 years old.
• World Trade Organisation has defined Turkey as one of the most dynamic countries
• Turkey's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007 reached $651 billion
• GDP is forecast to be 5.2 % in 2008
• In 2006, Turkey was ranked the 13th most attractive country in the world for FDI
• Turkey has the 17th largest economy in the world (2006)
• Europe's largest supplier of textiles
• Very liberal investment environment with the free (international) movement of capitals, shares, salaries, free trade zones and subsidies
• The production of motor vehicles in Turkey hit 1.1 million in 2007, and is ranked 16th highest worldwide.
• Globally competitive and diligent workforce systems
• A young educated labour force having relatively low costs