Atilla Koc, Turkey's Minister for Culture and Tourism, has identified Thermal Tourism as a key part of the strategy to increase Turkey's tourist appeal. Turkey has the 7th highest number of thermal resources of any country in the world but currently only 1% of visitors per year come to indulge.
Extensive investment is taking place to make the most of this rich and desirable resource, with million-dollar spa hotel projects planned or underway in locations all over Turkey, and promotion of health tourism worldwide.
As Koc points out, spa tourism is a year-round business, and also diversifies from Turkey's image of sun, sea and sand. [source: Oxford Business Group]
Of course Turkey has long recognised the benefits of spa therapy, whether al fresco in the mud baths of Dalyan or under cover in any Turkish Hamam in the country.
Turkey's goal for 2010 is to increase tourism, expand its diversity and improve profits and employment from tourism. and our very own Didim is one of the targetted tourism hotspots. For more information, check out the 2010 Tourism Vision for Turkey on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism website.
