Tourism

Tourism in Turkey was heavily promoted by the Ozal government. This resulted in a dramatic surge in the number of international visitors beginning in the 1980s. Tourists came not only from the West, but also from the Middle East. Between 1981 and 1986, revenues from tourism increased 215%. After the Soviet Union was disbanded in 1991, its former citizens gained the ability to travel and began to vacation in Turkey, which offers sand and sun, as well as winter sports facilities. Domestic terrorist incidents, principally bombings, have not had much impact on tourism since the perpetrators did not target areas frequented by visitors. By 2008, Turkey had become one of the world’s top ten tourist destinations. The government is actively seeking to increase the number of international visitors.