Unlike most places, Turkey has been placed in a tarnished pigeon hole and is regarded by many as a vulgar, cheap, dirty destination which shouldn’t be touched with a barge pole. Many who have done little to no research on Turkey tend to make assumptions based on one bad story they probably heard 15 years ago. The men are generalized as being slimy, greasy and untrustworthy, and the place itself has been cast as smelly, dirty and dismal and is shunned by many.

Having said that, Turkeys tourism industry is growing and growing, and in 2008 was visited by more than 26 million tourists. As huge as this sounds, when we compare this to Spain, a country loved by all, which is almost a third smaller in size than Turkey, and had visits of more than 60 million tourists in 2008, there is much room for improvement for Turkey, and hopefully in the future will do so.

Here are the top 10 reasons to visit Turkey this year.

• Price – Turkey is one of the cheapest holiday destinations to visit, you’ll find many cheap holidays to Turkey available now with the credit crunch hitting us all hard. Accommodation can be booked from as little as £6 per person per night!

• Locals – The locals are so friendly and welcoming, they do mean well and have your best interests at heart, however this can sometimes be misconstrued as pestering.

• Food – There are many stunning restaurants across Turkey providing diverse menu’s and a wide variety of options, serving fresh foods, marinated meats and freshly baked breads which will make your mouth water.

• Cost Of Living – It is far cheaper to purchase food and drink in Turkey as opposed to the more popular countries i.e. Greece, Spain & Italy. You can save a fortune in spending money too as there are many local markets where you can buy your gifts and clothing.

• Weather – A haven for the hardened sun worshipper, you couldn’t wish for it to get any hotter, in fact you’ll probably welcome the occasional breeze coming from the sea.

• Scenery – Surrounded by stunning mountainous scenery, Turkey really is a place of natural beauty. In every direction you turn, you see more beauty on show.

• Beach – You’ll be spoilt for choice by the many beaches readily available. Visit the Turquoise Coast where you’ll find the curved, large beach of Olu Deniz with its crystal clear water and stunning scenery. Or if you prefer being completely secluded, try Gemile Bay Beach, near Fethiye. This unspoiled, picturesque cove will see you there all day long.

• Nightlife – Offering colourful, vibrant nightlife, visit Bodrum where you’ll stumble across bar street hosting limitless entertainment including disco's, foam parties and live music. Or head over to the popular Marmaris, with its sea front setting hosting live entertainment and cocktail bars.

• Plenty To Do –There’s so much on offer in Turkey, from taking a steamy Turkish bath to white water rafting. You can even charter a gulet (a traditional wooden boat where you’ll cruise along the Aegean coast), you can’t possibly get bored in Turkey.

• Fantastic Hotels – If you prefer to relax in style and comfort, there are many 5* luxury hotels available, most starting from very reasonable prices. Most offer traditional entertainment, Turkish baths and great food all on the hotel premises.

The general consensus from people returning from their holiday in Turkey is that they loved Turkey, had an amazing time and would definitely return. When Turkey first came about as being a tourist destination, it was harshly judged and I think many of those opinions still linger on now. These unjustified opinions need to be replaced with true, honest judgements of the Country as it is now.