EASTERN ANATOLIA TOURISM AND ECONOMY
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
Eastern Anatolia is the largest
geographical region of Turkey
and comprises 21% of the
country’s area. It has borders
with Georgia, Armenia, the Nahchivan
Autonomous Region, Iran and Iraq.
In Eastern Anatolia the Pontus and
Taurus Mountains converge, creating
a rugged area with higher elevations,
a more severe climate and greater
precipitation than on the Anatolian
plateau. The average elevation of the
peaks is around 3,000 meters. Mount
Ararat, with an altitude of 5317 m., is
known from the legend of Noah’s Ark
and is located in the area.
Eastern Anatolia is the richest region in
terms of water resources in Turkey and
possesses 33%of Turkey’s total water
potential. Major rivers flowing through
the area include the Fırat (Euphrates),
Dicle (Tigris), Aras and Çoruh.
The main source of income in the
region is from agriculture and animal
husbandry. Food processing, metal
processing, plastic processing, wood
proceessing and furniture, textile
and building materials are among
developing industries in the region.
Cereal production is limited to wheat
and barley in the region. Rice is grown on
a limited scale as well. Beans are grown
in irrigated lands and chickpeas and
lentils are grown under dry conditions
in the region. Industrial crops such
as sugar beets, potatoes, sunflowers,
tobacco and cotton are produced as
well. Fruits such as apricots, cherries, sour cherries, almonds, strawberries, and summer vegetables such as
cucumbers, peppers, and eggplants are grown in the agro-ecologically suitable areas of the Eastern Anatolia.
Traditional handicrafts such as handmade carpets and kilims, silver ware, hand beaten copper giftware, handmade
textiles, folkloric dolls are all exquisite examples of deep-rooted Turkish culture.
There are one or more organised industry zones in each province of the Eastern Anatolia Region. Recently, Ata
Technopark, the first technopark in the region, was established in Erzurum with the collaboration of Erzurum
Atatürk University and the private sector. The second, Fırat Technopark, will be in Fırat University in Elazığ, and
managed by Fırat University and the private sector.
Three Border Trade Centres at Ağrı-Sarısu, Van-Kapıköy and Hakkari-Esendere, have been established
following a Decree announced in 2003.The aim of establishing these centres is to promote foreign trade with
neighbouring countries and so improve the welfare of the region. Trade through these centres is exempt from customs’
regulations. They are operated by joint stock companies which are established with the participation of the provincial
special administration, industry and trade chambers, and exporters’ unions of the related province.
All the provinces of Eastern Anatolia benefit from all investment incentives, as well as the latest incentives
within the context of the “Law on Encouragement of Investments and Employment and Amendment of
Certain Laws” (No. 5084, dated January 29, 2004) issued by the Ministry of Finance. The above mentioned law
covers energy support, free land, and tax and insurance premium supports. About 700 investment certificates were
given to Eastern Anatolia Region by the government between 2002 – 2006.
In addition to its large area, Eastern Anatolia has important potential with its young population. The government
has opened four new universities in Ağrı, Bitlis, Bingöl and Muş, in addition to the five existing universities in
the region (Atatürk University – Erzurum, İnönü University-Malatya, Fırat University-Elazığ, Kafkas University
–Kars, Erzincan University -Erzincan)
