Category: Uncategorized

Turkey is one of the only regional countries that export agricultural produce such as cotton, tobacco, fruit and vegetables. Agriculture accounts for over 15% of total economic output and is a major employer, particularly of women. There are also sizeable mining and manufacturing industries. Tourism is one of the largest service sectors and serves as a key source of foreign exchange. Turkey is attempting to become part of the European Union and as a result many social and economic reforms are taking place throughout the country. As a result of this European alignment, Turkey’s trading partners have expanded widely from the Middle East, Europe, Balkans, Asia, Australia to America.

In the aftermath of the Cold War, Turkey has moved from the periphery of Europe to the center of the new political and economic reality of Eurasia. This region, which includes Central Asia, the Caucasus and the countries of the Black Sea, attracts increasing attention not only because of its potential as one of the world’s most important energy-producing areas, but also because of its position as a transport corridor linking East and West.

Turkey has historic, cultural and linguistic ties with the majority of the countries in these regions. Turkey has significantly improved economic and trade relations in the region and Turkish companies have experienced phenomenal growth through their expansion into these markets. Since 1992, Turkey’s trade volume with the region has reached almost $6 billion. Turkey’s total volume of regional investment also exceeds $6 billion. Turkish contractors have become major players in the international construction market due to their reliability, creativity and cost effectiveness. Turkish contractors have undertaken projects in Central Asia, the Russian Federation and around the world with a total value of almost $40 billion.

Most of the rivers of Turkey flow into the seas surrounding the country. The Firat (Euphrates) and Dicle (Tigris) join together in Iraq and flow into the Persian Gulf. Turkey’s longest rivers, the Kizilirmak, Yesilirmak and Sakarya, flow into the Black Sea. The Susurluk, Biga and Gonen pour into the Sea of Marmara, the Gediz, Kucuk Menderes, Buyuk Menderes and Meric into the Aegean, and the Seyhan, Ceyhan and Goksu into the Mediterranean.

In terms of numbers of lakes, the Eastern Anatolian region is the richest. It contains Turkey’s largest, Lake Van (3,713 square kilometers), and the lakes of Ercek, Cildir and Hazar. There are also many lakes in the west Taurus mountains area: the Beysehir and Egirdir lakes, and the lakes that contain bitter waters like the Burdur and Acigoller lakes. Around the Sea of Marmara are located the lakes of Sapanca, Iznik, Ulubat, Manyas, Terkos, Kucukcekmece and Buyukcekmece. In Central Anatolia is the second largest lake in Turkey, Tuzgolu.

The waters of this lake are shallow and very salty. The lakes of Aksehir and Eber are also located in this region. As a result of the construction of dams during the past thirty years, several large dam lakes have come into existence. Together with the Ataturk Dam lake which started to collect water in January 1990, the following are good examples: Keban, Karakaya, Altinkaya, Adiguzel, Kilickaya, Karacaoren, Menzelet, Kapulukaya, Hirfanlt, Sariyar and Demirkupru.

Customs officials seldom bother to open tourists’ luggage on your entry, but they may show more interest on your departure. There is a strict prohibition on the export of antiquities and you may be required to show a proof of purchase slip and currency exchange slip if you have bought a Turkish carpet. Older carpets may also require a document from the shop keeper or from a local museum certifying that the carpet is not an antiquity.

On Entry
– The following items may be brought into the country duty free personal effects of the tourist.
– one TV, one colour pocket TV (maximum 16 cm screen), one TV tape radio combination, one video recording camera and 5 video cassettes (blank); 5 records, 5 tape cassettes or compact discs.
– one video player, cine-projector (8 mm) and 10 rolls of film (blank), one slide projector.
– one pocket computer (maximum main memory capacity Ram 128k. Byte), electronic playing devices (without cassette – keyboard).
– one transistor radio and portable radio – tape player (its specification to be determined by the Ministry of Finance and Customs), one Walkman or pocket tape recorder, one portable compact disc player.
– Binoculars (one pair, except night binoculars)
– harmonica, mandolin, flageole, flute, guitar, and accordion (only one of each type, maximum 3 musical instruments).
– personal sports equipment.
– necessary medical items.
– bicycle, baby buggy, toys.
– 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.
– 200 grams of tobacco and 200 cigarette papers, or 50 grams of chewing tobacco or 200 grams of pipe tobacco, or 200 grams of snuff
– (In addition to the above allowances, it is possible to purchase 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, and 500 grams of pipe tobacco from the Turkish Duty Free Shops upon entering the country).
– 1.5kg. coffee, 1.5kg. instant coffee, 500 grams of tea.
– 1 kilo chocolate and 1 kilo sweets.
– 5 (100 cc) or 7 (70 cc) bottles of wines and/or spirits.
– five bottles of perfume (120 ml max. each).
– one portable typewriter.
– one camera with 5 rolls of film.

– First aid, and spare parts for the car.
– Other items necessary during the journey.
– Valuable items and all items with a value of over $ 15,000 must be registered in the owner’s passport upon entering Turkey, for control upon exit.
– Antiques brought into the country must be registered in the owner’s passport to avoid difficulties on exit.
– Sharp instruments (including camping knives) and weapons may not be brought into the country without special permission.
– The bringing into the country, trade, and consumption of marijuana and all other narcotics is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy punishment.
– Gifts, not exceeding 500 DM in value and not for trading purposes, may be brought into the country duty free. In addition, gifts not exceeding 500 OM in value may be posted to Turkey duty free, if the date stamped by the sending post office falls one month before, or one month after the following holidays: Seker Bayrami, Kurban Bayrami, Christmas, and New Year’s.

Note: Cellular Telephones entering the country must be accompanied by a certification form showing ownership. Ownership must be documented in the passport of the owner and will be checked on entry and exit.

For more information contact the Ministry of Transportation, General Directorate at Tel: (312) 212 35 72 – 212 60 10 (10 lines), Fax: (312) 221 32 26 or write to Ulastirma Bakanligi Telsiz Gn. Md. Emek – Ankara.

On exit
– Gifts and souvenirs: for a new carpet, a proof of purchase; for old items, a certificate from a directorate of a museum is necessary.
– Exporting antiques from Turkey is forbidden.
– Valuable personal items can only be taken out of the country providing they have been registered in the owner’s passport upon entry, or providing they can show they have been purchased with legally exchanged currency.
– Minerals may only be exported from the country with a special document obtained from the MTA (General Directorate of Mining Exploration and Research). Etudler Dairesi 06520, Ankara
– Phone: +90 (312) 287 3430 /1622, Fax: (312) 285 42 71

Every big city around the world experiences crime to some degree, but Turkey is a secular Islamic state and crime is looked upon by most Turks as the most shameful behavior a Muslim can commit. A money belt is the most convenient way of carrying your personal items while on tour, leaving your hands free to take photographs