Magical Geography
The Mediterranean Region

The Mediterranean Basin has 31% of the total number of global tourists, 26% of the global income derived from tourism and 25% of tourist accommodation throughout the world.

It is estimated that, by the year 2010, 1.5 billion dollars, that is, more than 10% of the global economy will be generated by the tourism industry, and this figure will rise to 2 billion dollars by the year 2020. The number of tourists travelling around the world is expected to to reach 1 billion by 2010, increasing to 1.5 billion by 2020. This speedy rise in the global tourism industry, an important element in the service business sector, is reflected in the Mediterranean Basin, of which Turkey forms a part.

The Mediterranean Basin: this caters for 31% of global tourists and generates 26% of world tourism as well as providing 25% of the global capacity
of tourist accommodation.

In recent years, Turkey, with its share of the income generated by tourism in the Mediterranean Basin, has become a serious competitor in this area alongside other countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Greece. Although its entrance into the market was delayed, and in spite of various ups and downs, Turkey was visited by 10 million tourists in the year 2000. According to the statistics for the first nine months of that year, the annual income from tourism rose by 48% over the previous year when the statistics for the same period showed an income of 3 billion, 964 million dollars. It seems that the greatest share of the increase to 5 million 869 dollars was gained in the Mediterranean region which contains a third of all the tourist accommodation in Turkey.

The Mediterranean Region: With 369 establishments licensed for investment purposes and 520 with a license to work, together with a capacity to accommodate 198,012 tourists, the Mediterranean region is geographically the most important area for tourism in Turkey and the most important source of income from tourism. 41% of the tourists who come by air to Turkey are to be found here.

In the Mediterranean Basin European countries form the most important resource for the tourism market. As income levels rise so a higher quality of accommodation and the services provided is expected. This gives Antalya and its surroundings an important advantage in that the establishments there are new and modern in comparison with other parts of the Mediterranean Basin where accommodation is beginning to become antiquated. So this area's share of the market is increasing steadily.

The Mediterranean Basin, in particular, shows the effect of different forms of tourism which obviate dependence on the seasons. Here foundations have been laid for tourism involving congresses, fairs, exhibitions, health , out-of-door recreation and cruising, and these are alrady proving profitable.

In obtaining a share of the market. The influence of 21st century trends in tourism has brought a new profile to the tourist agenda. The World Tourism Organization predicts that these trends will influence the travel industry: eco-tourism will develop rapidly, and cultural tourism will continue to rise as the desire of people to understand each other and to explore different cultures and a variety of ethnic backgrounds increases.

Outdoor recreation, underwater diving and speleology are on the increase; underwater travel, as yet in its infancy, will rapidly become a new and important market; the desire to explore the world which has left no corner untouched is ready to conquer the Poles; adventure tourism, exciting a rush of adrenalin, will develop, the cruise-tourism sector will reach new heights and entertainment tourism will be one of the favourites of the 21st century.

Accordingly, the Mediterranean region must be prepared in order to obtain its share of the market in these new fields. Although to a great extent its new, modern installations provide an answer to some of these demands, its indigenous natural properties and cultural heritage also give it the means to satisy the expectations of eco-tourism, cultural tourism, out-door recreational tourism and adventure tourism as well as tourism in the areas of cruising and entertainment.

Antalya and its surroundings with their blue-flag beaches occupy a special place in the Mediterranean Basin. The fact that industrialization came late to Turkey by comparison with other countries gives it a special advantage in that the sea has been protected from serious pollution. The opening of a congress centre in Antalya in 1977 gave this area another dimension, apart from its favourable climate and natural beauty, as a centre for congress tourism.

In the Mediterranean region, where even in the coldest months of January and February the temperature of the sea is 17 C and the outdoor temperature is between 10 C and 11 C, seasons are merely names on the calendar. Of course, this is the main reason for the great variety of tourism available in this region.

Marinas and long stretches of coast line in this region make yachting a favourite form of tourism. There are facilities as well as suitable weather conditions for swimming and sunbathing, underwater diving, wind-surfing, paragliding, water-skiing and sailing as well as mountaineering, bicycle- touring, canoe-rafting, trekking and cave exploration, making this a veritable paradise for tourists.

Moreover, the Mediterranean region has great potential as a Centre for Beliefs on account of the innumerable cultures it has been home to. Adana and, in particular, Antakya show in a marked way the influence of this colourful mosiac of different faiths and beliefs.

One of the special features of the Mediterranean region is that it contains in itself the riches of a whole continent, giving Turkey the possibility of becoming one of the most popular regions of all the countries of the Mediterranean basin, with its qualities, so important to the new tourism profile, of unspoiled nature and an unpolluted environment.