My friend, the carpet dealer, isn't going to like this...

Most third world countries, after being stripped of natural resources or independent financial markets (through various forms of imperialism), turned to tourism as a means to bring money into their suffering economies. There are hundreds of examples of this, so I'll leave it in the intrepid hands of the curious to study the cases themselves, but for the point of this story, it's important to understand that Turkey is one such country.

In an effort to better receive foreign visitors, Turkey has opened vocational high schools specializing in tourism, hotel management, and translating. Millions of dollars have been spent improving transportation in the areas tourists are most likely to visit, and the advertising effort has likewise cost millions.

Every part of the culture is up for sale: carpets, Ottoman style clothes, tickets to view Dervish religious ceremonies, and even Kurdish head scarves (a political symbol now turned fashion statement).

Turkey has probably done much more to attract tourists, but I'm not a tourist, so I don't really know. I live here. When I travel, I usually hitch-hike, stay with friends or in shitty motels, and eat stuff I buy at local markets. My knowledge of the industry is mostly limited to what I've read about in the papers or heard from friends. I haven't even been inside the Blue Mosque, and I've lived here for 3 years.

I could criticize the problem further, but like I said, I don't really know... Instead, the observation of my friend, the carpet seller, seems to sum up the main problem with this situation.

"If tourists don't come, or can't come, they don't buy the wares that pay my bills. So, I can't spend money in my economy on the things I need and want."

This was in 2004, when the tourism industry in Turkey was still suffering from post-September 11th fallout: people still too afraid to travel to a "Muslim" country.

Now, there's a worse problem... people just can't afford to do it. The link visits an image tracking Americans' projected travel plans since 1968. This year has brought the lowest figure in four decades. I wish I could find the same data for Europeans.

Carpet sales will probably decline, and I suppose I shouldn't expect any visitors, either. Those who still wish to travel might find these links helpful:
For the penniless
For the homeless