Since historical occasions, modern-day Turkey as been a pivotal European conduit to the continent of Asia.
As empires from the Roman to the Ottoman rose and fell, the areas significance to linking the 2 continents remained, because it does to this present day.
The most important metropolis, Istanbul is a sprawling seaport metropolis that was as soon as the capital of each the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire. It’s typically seen as a metropolis that straddles two continents, a bodily barrier between two distinctly totally different land lots.
Its geographical place atop two continents shapes the Turkey we all know right now the place Islamic tradition and structure collides with values acquainted to many locations within the west.
But it surely additionally give it a singular geopolitical function essential to mediation and understanding and one that might develop into ever extra necessary as tensions proceed to rise within the Center East.
As battle brews between western backed Israel and a mess of Iranian funded teams, Turkey’s historical function of go-between might show as important as ever.
Since October 7, Ankara has acted as a intermediary within the battle, regardless of being brazenly pro-Palestine, internet hosting key regional gamers and offering important assist while sustaining helpful diplomatic relations with pro-Israel nations.
Its comparatively shut relationship with Europe even led to rumours of Turkey’s imminent ascension to the European Union and concept that fuelled a lot of the Go away marketing campaign’s messaging previous to the 2016 Brexit referendum.
However the final decade has seen a rustic as soon as recognized as a bastion of democracy within the area develop into extra authoritarian, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tightening his grip on energy and clamping down on home opposition.
Regardless of this, Turkey stays a preferred vacation vacation spot for a lot of Brits, with long-time favourites akin to Marmaris and Bodrum being joined by the rise in recognition of quaint villages akin to Kalkan.
Final 12 months, Turkey’s tourism trade noticed 49 million worldwide guests, essentially the most since 2000, producing an estimated £98 million for the nation’s economic system.
Its recognition has led to tour guides calling for Turkey’s authorities to introduce stricter guidelines to control tourism lodging.
Zekeriya Şen, the founding father of personalised journey agency Fest Journey, warned present tourism practices in Turkey aren’t appropriate and referred to as on the mayor of 1 common vacation spot to impose a “ban on renting residences to vacationers or take very drastic measures to unravel the housing disaster attributable to tourism.”
He warned: “It additionally contributes to the locals turning into poorer and fewer self-sufficient of their financial disaster.
“Istanbul wants to advertise tourism practices and take measures to beat housing affordability points. Residents are on the lookout for a metropolis that’s much less depending on tourism income.”