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TURISM

TOURISM

THE WORLD TRAVEL & TOURISM COUNCIL

TOURISM IN TURKEY

EDUCATION

EDUCATION

Turkey’s education system is composed of two parts; formal education and mass education. Preschool, elementary education, secondary education, and higher education form the basis of formal education. Mass education on the other hand is separated from the formal education and includes national education centers, apprentice training centers, open universities, and county colleges.

From the age of six to the age of fourteen every Turkish citizen is obliged to attend school. The duration of compulsory education was expanded from five to eight years in 1997. The education curriculum comprises five years of primary education, three years of  junior high school (still considered primary education in the Turkish system), four years of high school (secondary education), which might last one year longer if the school has a preparation class,  and four years of university. After finishing five years in primary school, a primary school diploma is awarded and the junior high school diploma is awarded at the end of the three-year junior high school education.

Everyone in Turkey has the right to education which is free of charge for the compulsory primary education.

Formal education is the regular education of individuals in a certain age group and given in schools.

This includes Pre-Primary education, Primary education, Secondary education and Higher education institutions.

Non-formal education in Turkey is offered by a network of training centers who are supervised by the Ministry of National Education (MEB). Non-formal education services aim to teach reading-writing, help to continue education of students for finish their incomplete education, teach balanced nutrition and a healthy life style, teach people from various professions the knowledge and skills they need to improve themselves, and so on.

Education in the future:

Mr. Erdogan backed a proposal by Turkey´s National Education Council to make Ottoman Turkish mandatory in religious high schools, and available as an elective in secular high schools. Flouting earlier rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, the council also proposed that religious education be compulsory from age six. The president's response to sharp criticism of these initiatives from Turkish politicians and civil groups was characteristic: The changes would take place "Whether they like it or not", Mr. Erdogan said.

Robert Collage in Istanbul


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JOBS

JOBS

Turkey´s Labor Code defines the work week as 45 hours. Major companies are open from 8:30-17:00, Monday through Friday, though this often changes depending on the job.

Turkey´s Labor Code defines the work week as 45 hours. Major companies are open from 8:30-17:00, Monday through Friday, though this often changes depending on the job.

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In spite of the law, there is no standard work week in Turkey. While corporate employees may indeed work 45 hours a week with little overtime, foreigners working in the tourism industry (especially in the bar and restaurant sector) may find themselves assigned much longer hours.

You may be surprised to see children working in service and even industrial industries. Turkish workers are eligible for full-time employment at the age of 15, and widespread poverty means that many of them take full advantage of it. Children as young as 13 are eligible for part-time employment so long as it is not hard physical labor and they are attending school. Even still, illegal child labor is not uncommon in Turkey, especially among poor and rural families.

INFRASTRUCTURE

INFRASTRUCTURE

Turkey has undergone a profound economic transformation over the last decade and its economic fundamentals are quite solid. It is the 17th largest economy in the world and the 6th largest economy in Europe.

Turkey’s emerging economy presents a need for infrastructure investments in various industries. The main industries include, but are not limited to, construction, residential and non-residential buildings, transportation and energy.

Regarding the infrastructure sector, the government allocated USD 26 billion in 2013. 30 percent of this budget is for the transportation sector, followed by education, energy, healthcare, and agriculture.

New plans and targets also continue for urban renewal projects. Since the enactment of the Urban Transformation Law No. 6306, the Turkish government has decided to retrofit and renovate buildings that are prone to destruction during natural disasters, which includes 6.5 million residences, with a budget of USD 400 billion.

Total investments: $6,918 million

Overall rank: 9 (28 countries spending most on road infrastructure)

Turkey, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is investing a lot of money into infrastructure as its economy witnesses a boom.

Image: A view of Istanbul's financial district, Turkey.
Photographs: Murad Sezer/Reuters 

Turkey Video Guide !!

Karen's profile

KAREN!

My name is Karen.
I study Law in the University Of La Sabana.
I am 20 years old.
I like listen to music and climb

Music !!

Turkish music is a combination of Central Asian folk music with the Byzantine, Persian, Ottoman, Arab, Balkan and gypsy musics until the present, as well as mixing the American and European popular music with these traditional ones. 

Classical music were developed from the intellectual in the big citys, the first Turkish Music Conservatory was established in Instanbule in 1976, and right after that the first State Classical Turkish Music Chorus was inaugurated. 

The pop, rock and jazz music were developed after the republic.

In the 90's the underground music, Turkish rock, hip-hop, rap, electronica, and dance music became popular by the American influence all around the world.

There's a lot of local and international music festivals, choruses and concerts all around Turkey.

Some of this festivals are One Love festival and Jazz Festival.

The most known Turkish music types and popular music genres played in Turkey are:

• Classical Turkish Music
• Polyphonic Turkish Music
• Turkish Folk Music
• Arabesque / Belly Dance Music
• Pop, Rock and Jazz
• Military Music
• Religious and Sufi Music

Manners!!

Customs and Manners As in many other countries, customs in Turkey vary considerably from some countries in Europe, USA and Canada. You will encounter all the trappings of a modern western country; blue jeans, modern apartment blocks, traffic jams ... but side by side with all this is the unfamiliar, pencil-thin minarets and the wailing of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer (five times a day); the smells and sights of the bazaar; the lined Asiatic faces and Anatolian peasants; camels slow stepping through the village streets; Turkish carpets airing on balconies. This blend of east and west assures the visit a gentle introduction to Asia and Islam.  You will find the modern Turk welcoming and friendly. Almost without exception you will be greeted everywhere with "hosgeldiniz" (welcome) and later you will be asked a barrage of questions about yourself and the world. "How much do you earn?" "How much did such-and-such cost in your country?" "Do you have to go into the army?" "What other countries have you been to?" All these questions should be treated as only a genuine curiosity in you, and not an offensive intrusion. We Turks are renowned for our hospitality. In almost every shop, if you are a client and start to bargain, you will be offered tea of coffee. It is not considered good manners to fill up a half full glass, it must always be empty and then filled up. When drinking a toast one always touches glasses with everyone and says either "serefe" (to our honour) or "sihhate" (to our health). You will also notice that in Turkey we take our childen everywhere, especially to dinner in the evening. You will find that your children will be welcomed everywhere. If you decide to visit a mosque during your stay, please be aware that ladies are expected to cover their shoulders and legs. You must take off your shoes and leave them in front of the door. When you are inside a mosque, even if it is not prayer time there will often be several people praying, so don't disturb them in any way, don't take flash photography and don't talk or stand directly in front of them. If you should go to visit a Turkish family in a village you would also take your shoes off, and the custom is to kiss the elder's hand and bring it to your forehead. This will be very much appreciated, especially coming from a foreigner. Don't do a lot of kissing and hugging with a person of the opposite sex in public. These actions are consdered rude and offensive. It should be remembered that in Turkey we are by nature a modest nation, and find other people's nudity offensive. Topless sunbathing actually contravenes the Turkish obscenity law; albeit a lawy not enforced on foreign visitors but please respect our traditions. On the whole we are an honest nation and you will be little troubled by theft.
		Body Language Turks say "evet", (eh-veht) (yes) by nodding the head forward and down. To say no, "hayir" (hay-yurh), nod your head up and back, lifting your eyebrows at the same time. Another way to say no is "yok" (yohk), which literally means "it doesn't exist". Remember, when a Turk seems to be giving you an arch look, he's only saying no. By contrast, wagging your head from side to side doesn't mean no in Turkish; it means "I don't understand". So, if a Turk asks you "Are you looking for a bus to Bodum?" and you shake your head, he will assume you don't understand English and probably ask you the same questions again, this time in French! There are other signs that can cause confusion. For instance, if you want to indicate length ("I want a fish this big"), don't hold your hands apart at the desired length, but hold out your arm and place a flat hand on it, measuring from the fingertips to the hand. Height is indicated by holding a flat hand the desired distance above the floor, or some other flat surface, such as a counter or table top. If someone, a shopkeeper or restaurant waiter for instance, wants to show you "come on, follow me", he will wave his hand downward and toward himself in a scooping motion. Waggling an upright finger would never occur to him, except perhaps as a vaguely obscene geture.
Folk Traditions Until recently folk music was not written down and the traditions have been kept alive by the "asiklar" (troubadours). Distinct from the folk music is the Ottoman military music, now performed by the "mehter takimi" (janissary bands in Istanbul, originated in Central Asia, and played with kettle drums, clarinets, cymbals and bells). The mystical music of the Whirling Dervishes or "mevlevier" is dominated by the haunting sound on the reed pipe or "ney" and can be heard in Konya during the Mevlana Festival in December.  Folk Dances Each region in Turkey has its own special folk dances and costumes, and best known of these are: "Horon" - a Black Sea dance performed by men only, dressed in black with silver trimmings. The dancers link arms and quiver to the vibrations of the "Kemence" (a primitive violin). "Kasik Oyunu - the Spoon Dance performed from Konya to Silifke, it consists of brighly dressed male and female dancers clickling out the dance rhythm with a pair of wooden spoons in each hand. "Kilc Kalkarn" - the Sword and Shield Dance of Bursa represents the Ottoman conquest of the city. It is performed by men only, dressed in early Ottoman battle dress, who dance to the sound of clashing swords and shields without any music. "Zeybek" - in this Aegean dance colourfully dressed male dancers called "efe" symbolise courage and heroism.

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Festivals !

TURKEY FESTIVALS

Turkey have more than 1000 festivals. Turkey has no shortage of fascinating folkloric traditions. Turkey is also a cauldron of classical and modern festivities, drawing classical stars such as Zubin Mehta, Monserrat Caballe and Elizabeth Schwartzkopf, and popular acts by Sting, Seal or Smashing Pumpkins to create an ongoing extravaganza of international talent. Tukey had a lot of cultural festivals and most of them have guets from other countries and this is posble by the globalization, this open doors, let us know about diferent cultures, but, people can forget a culture or your traditions to focus on modern and wonderful things that the globalization can offer, like the technology.

Religious festivals

Ramadan or Sugar Feast is the most important festival in Turkey; Ramadan is not celebrated on the same date and begins 11 days earlier each year. The Muslim month of daylight abstention from food, water, tobacco and sexual relations. The Ramadan Feast in Turkey is a time for visiting relatives and paying one’s respect to older people. Many Turks give away sweets and desserts during the festival, and children may watch free Turkish shadow plays.
Many people wake up early on the first day of the Ramadan Feast. They put on their best clothes, called bayramlık, which they often buy specifically for the occasion, and have a large breakfast. This symbolizes the end of the fasting period, which many Muslims observe during the preceding month of Ramadan.

The symbols of the Ramadan Feast include:

•  A new moon.
•  Sweets or traditional desserts.
•  A cup of Turkish tea or coffee.

Feast of Sacrifice is a four day religious festival. Feast of Sacrifice

traditions in Turkey include sacrificing an animal in a special ritual.

In this religius festival men of each family go to a mosque for a special

morning prayer. Then the sacrifice ritual begins. In some regions in Turkey,

people paint the sacrificial animal with henna and adorn it with ribbons and

the butcher reads a prayer before slaughtering the animal.

Families share about two thirds of the animal's meat with relatives and

neighbors, and they give about one third to the poor people.

The main characteristic of the Feast of Sacrifice is that people, neighbours,

relatives and friends pay visits and go to see each other. People usually

wear their best clothes during the Feast of Sacrifice. They welcome guests

to their homes or visit relatives or friends during the holiday. Young people

greet their older relatives and neighbors by kissing their hand as a sign of

respect.

The symbols of the Feast of Sacrifice (Kurban Bayrami) include;

•  Sacrificial sheeps
•  Morning prayer in the mosque
•  Delicious traditional foods
•  A cup of Turkish tea or coffee
•  Best wishes and blessings
• Visiting relatives and neighbors

Cultural festivals

Cultural festivals are most interesting in cities and resorts that have the resources to attract internationally renowned acts. Folk-dance festivals provide an opportunity to see Turkey’s best dance troupes perform a sample of the varied repertoire of Turkish dances in traditional costumes. There’s a full festival calendar for İstanbul:

January:

Camel wrestling Selçuk. The festival itself takes place on the last two weekends, though bouts occur throughout Aydın province from December onwards. Camel wresting is a sport in which two male Tülü camels wrestle, typically in response to a female camel in heat being led before them.

April:

İstanbul International Film Festival is the first and oldest international film festival in Turkey, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV). Is held in theaters in Istanbul, Turkey. The aim of this festival is to promote the development of cinema in Turkey and promote quality films in Turkish cinema market

May:

Celebrations conquest. This festival is a week celebrating the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople old. In this cultural festival we can appreciate military concerts of Ottoman Mehter band processions, costumes and fireworks.

Selcuk Ephesus Festival. Every year in the ancient theatre is the organized this festival by Selcuk Counsil and takes place in the center of town. Lots of Culture, Art, Music events takes part with locals.

International Istanbul Puppet Festival. Is a celebration of Turkish Shadow Theatre, or karağöz – silent puppets tell their tale behind a two-dimensional screen.

İstanbul International Theatre Festival This event take place even-numbered years since May to June and will bring theatre lovers close to 100 performances by 7 foreign and 33 Turkish theatre, dance, and performance companies across 13 different venues. There ara dance and workshops as well as theatre performances.

Hıdırellez Gypsy festival. Is the most famous and the biggest Romani dance and music festival in Turkey. Is a celebration of the coming of spring, with gypsy bands performing, dancing in the street and jumping over bonfires. May 5–6, in this date alza is celebrating the Takava Gypsy Festival Kirklareli in Edirne.

June–July:

Oil wrestling also called grease wrestling, is the Turkish national sport. It is so called because the wrestlers douse themselves with olive oil. Competitors from all over the country tangle with each other in the country’s major, week-long oil wrestling event, plus lots of music and dance events. Late June or early July.

Kafkasör Festival Artvin. Is a fighting between young bulls in a beautiful alpine setting, plus performances from folk-dance troupes and musical events and lots of drinking. Is celebrating in the last days of June.

Pir Abdal Musa Tekke. Is a festival with rites honouring the second most important Alevî saint after Hacı Bektaş Veli; early June.

İstanbul International Classical Music Festival İstanbul Performances by top soloists and orchestras, often in historic venues.

Efes Pilsen One Love İstanbul. Is a summer festival since 2002, has had

80 groups and 1543 artists. Is a weekend-long festival, with plenty of DJ-led dance sets and performances from international bands and local bands.

Rock N’ Coke. It is traditionally held at the Hezarfen Airfield in Istanbul, Turkey. The festival is organized by the Turkish concert organizer Pozitif. At the end of every summer, the Hezarfen Airfield is used as a venue for a two day chain of concerts, with both national and international performers featured.

International İzmir Festival Month-long classical music, pop, ballet and jazz festival with many international names performing at Ephesus theatre and Çeşme castle.

Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival has been organized by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet with international participation by opera and ballet companies from several different countries. The theatre is noted as one of the best preserved antique theatres in the world, with many original features of the building remaining intact.

İstanbul Jazz Festival offers a selection of jazz music performances with the participations of famous artists from all over the world. The festival is organized by the Istanbul Foundation of Culture and Arts.

August

Haci Bektaş Veli Commemoration. This festival has become, in the last decade, the main public event of Alevism in Turkey. It is characterized both by its undetermined nature between religion, culture, folklore and politics, and by the diversity of its participants and scenes.

September–October

Bodrum Ballet Festival Centred on the castle, and emphasizing ballet and opera

İstanbul Biennial aims to create a meeting point in İstanbul in the field of visual arts between artists from diverse cultures and the audience.

Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival is a film festival, held annually since 1963 in Antalya, is the most important film festival in Turkey.

Tourism and Handicrafts Festival. The festival is organized by Avanos Municipalitiy, to make the region's handicraft tradition known, especially pottery which is a tradition since to many years in this region

Colors in Turkey !!

Colors in Turkey !!!

White : purity and cleanliness.

Is preferred in cars, houses and clothes because reflects the light 

Purple: intellect, authority and mystery.

Is preferred by intellectuals and feminist 

Brown: in clothes is a symbol of inferior culture in Turkish men's 

Black: negativity, they don't see the black only like a color 

Dark blue: authority and self confidence

Frequently colors in politics, business and bureaucratic circles 

Violet: mourning 

Yellow: ephemeral state and attraction 

Red: power leadership, sexuality and luck 

Orange: health, happiness, vibrancy, creativity, confidence, bravery and communication.

Exciting but more constructive than the color red .

Blue: slow dawn blood circulation and protects against the evil eye

Maria Paula's profile

Name: Maria Paula Montoya

Age: 18 years old

Career: Audiovisual communication and multimedia

My hobbies are photography and play the piano.

Mariana's profile

My name is Mariana, I'm 18 years old.
I love listen music, read books and watch movies. 
I have 4 dogs, 2 cats and one parrot.

Natalia's profile

Hi, my name is Natalia, I'm 19 years old.
I study audiovisual and  multimedia communications in the sabana university.
I love music, video games, books and food
My favorite color is  golden and black.
My favorite fruit is cherry. 
I love animals. I have a dog her name is canela