7 myths About Turkey you Should not Believe
Turkey is one of the safest countries in the world for tourists. This statement was made by the Minister of Culture Yalcin Topcu (Yalçın Topçu). It is primarily a question of the coastal areas of the Mediterranean and the Aegean side, so popular among tourists
The First Myths – Turkey does not Keep an Order
In tourist areas the peace of tourists and local population is constantly provided by the police who are divided into several departments. For example, the National Police is responsible for order and law observance. Jandarma refers to the regular army and ensures the safety of citizens in small towns. Traffic order is observed by the Trafic police. If strolling along the streets, you look carefully, you will notice that the officers guarding the peace of the cities are quite a few, but they try not to rush into the eyes of tourists. There are even special units of the so-called “secret police” who patrol the streets in the “civilian” clothes, so as not to attract attention. The official data shows that street robberies, violence in Turkey are not even the rarity, but rather the exception. Tourists calmly strolling along the streets, in parks and squares can be seen 24 hours a day and all of them feel safe.
The Second Myth – Antalya is Captured by Refugees
It is commonly known that the Turkish government provides assistance to Syrian refugees; they are provided with temporary camps where they can receive shelter and food. But one can confidently claim that illegal migrants cannot be found in resort areas! The Decree of the Turkish Government is strictly observed, refugees’ entry to the Mediterranean coast is strictly prohibited. This is also observed by the police, special monitoring is implemented at stations and airports.
The Third Myth – There are Constant Disorders in Turkey
Recently, people from overseas more and more say that Turkey is approaching a civil war. Is it true? Yes, there were riots, but it was more a consequence of unstable political situation after the spring elections, when a usual one-party system of government was broken and a consequence of provocations from the “outside”. Now everything is different. In the early parliamentary elections held in early November, the ruling Justice and Development Party which had been providing a stable development of the country for many years won the elections. The election results proved once again that the people of Turkey have nothing to share. Today people look with confidence to the future, and you will not even hear about the unrest along the streets.
The Fourth Myth – Great Danger of Terrorist Attacks in Turkey
Another issue that alarms tourists today is whether it is safe in Turkey in connection with the recent events in Syria and how great the danger of terrorist attacks is? It should be noted that Turkey is not a small country and it is more than 1,000 kilometers from the Antalya coast to the Syrian border! The Turks have already started construction of the “blank wall” at the border in order to protect the country from the natives of Syria, threatening the peace of the country.
According to the Department of Culture and Tourism, anti-terrorist operations are constantly carried out in Turkey, but they are more preventive measures to ensure the complete safety both of tourists and citizens of the republic.
Turkey has a very strong army which keeps the order. In addition, it is the country where the government observes law compliance and punishes perpetrators.
According to RIA-Novosti news agency, there was not a single terrorist attack in the resort areas of Turkey registered over the past few years.
The Fifth Myth – Turkey is at the Threshold of Economic Crisis
Turkey is not afraid of economic crisis, too. The information that the economy of the country is in decline is fundamentally untrue. Turkey is one of the few countries that shows the growth in the economy amid the global crisis. Only this year, the figures have risen by 3.5 percent! Turkish politicians have ambitious plans - less than in 10 years the country should enter the top ten economies in the world.
The government in Turkey actively supports small business. There are special investment zones here where the government sponsors the opening of new businesses. One of such areas is located in Antalya, supporting research and investment in high technology. In such areas, the government is ready to sponsor 50 percent of the opening of new businesses.
The Sixth Myth - Islamic Country in a Few Moments Can “Turn Back” on People of Different Faiths and Forbid the Entry.
Firstly, Turkey is a secular state, and as it is well known that in the context of the given political structure religion does not affect decisions of the authorities and laws. Secondly, Turkey is a republic and this form of government has been remaining in force here from the twenties of the last century, so the conversations that everything can be changed suddenly are groundless. In addition, there are operating Christian churches in Turkey, including on the Mediterranean coast, where services and the liturgy are constantly held. People of different faiths are treated very tolerantly. The reasons for loyal attitude to people of different faiths in Turkey are that since ancient times Turkey has been the land inhabited by representatives of different civilizations and different faiths. It is also important that one of the main revenue sources in Turkey is tourism, so the country will never forbid entry to foreigners.
The Seventh Myth – There is Chaos on Turkish Roads
Many foreigners are afraid to start driving in Turkey. But it is much safer to ride here than in many other countries. Perfectly flat roadbed combined with wide junctions, lack of manhole covers on the way - all these make the ride comfortable and quiet. As we know the quality of the road depends on the number of accidents. There are cameras almost everywhere which fix the speed limit and the police do not take bribes.
Summing up, we see that majority of fears is nothing more than rumors which appear due to lack of information. Incorrect information often frightens our fellow citizens even when there is no reason to worry. As the saying goes, “A little bird told me”, but not all shall be taken at the face value.
