Topic sentence: There are many reasons why Turkey is a popular destination for tourists.
Turkey has long been very popular with tourists. In 2011, the country welcomed 31.4 million international tourists, making it the 6th most popular tourist destination in the World, behind only France, the US, China, Spain and Italy. This year, these numbers will probably increase further. There are a number of reasons to explain why Turkey is such a popular destination.
Turkey has an incredible variety of nature. Nearly every region has its own distinguishing natural features. Thus, you can find lush forests along the Black Sea coast, desert landscapes in the South-East, beautiful beaches along the west and south coasts, and huge mountains scattered throughout the interior. There are also unique natural attractions, such as the rock formations in Kapadokya and the hot springs of Pamukkale. This means that, whatever season they arrive in, tourists can find something to do. In summer they can laze on the beaches, in spring and autumn go hiking, and in winter go skiing on Uludag or in the mountains around Kars and Erzurum. Turkey also has a lot of historical sites. Over the past two millenia and more, the country has been home to many different peoples, cultures and empires, and almost all of them have left traces. Istanbul is the most famous destination in this regard. Here, tourists can find world-famous monuments such as the Hagia Sophia church, built by a Byzantine emperor, or Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque, built by Ottoman sultans. However,almost every town in the country has some historical monument to boast of. For example, the small town of Efes on the Aegean coast has an incredibly well-preserved ancient Roman city, while Antakya in the far South is home to one of the oldest churches in the world. In short, for people interested in history, Turkey is a must-see destination. As well as natural and historical attractions, there is the food. While Turkish cuisine is probably most famous for the Doner Kebab, visitors to the country will find that there are many other delicious dishes as well. First, there is the huge selection of meze, appetizers made from vegetables, fish or meat, and usually accompanied by raki, an aniseed-flavoured spirit. Then there are the famous main dishes, such as Hunkar Begendi, made from aubergines and minced meat, or Iskender Kebab, lamb meat on fried bread, covered with tomato sauce and melted butter. Finally, there are the sweets and desserts, such as Baklava and Turkish Delight, which are justly famous around the world. All of these are generally fairly reasonably priced, so tourists don't have to spend a lot of money to eat good food. To sum up, Turkey has something for everyone – people who like their holidays to be active and those who just want to lie on the beach, history buffs or gourmets. There are very few countries in the world that can offer this kind of variety to tourists. Maybe you, too, will take your next holiday there?