2011 expected to be a 'strong year' for tourism to Turkey

Historical attractions such as Ephesus and Troy expected to maintain popularity

The coming year is going to be a good one for the Turkish tourism industry, as more people visit the country.

Turkey - which straddles the continents of Europe and Asia - is becoming more popular for overseas visitors, according to an article in the English-language Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News.

A writer for the news provider said that the statistics, which were provided by research company Euromonitor Worldwide, showed that the country has been growing in stature as a holiday destination for the last few years.

"The Turkish tourism industry performed strongly over the review period and says even in 2009 it recorded positive growth, although at a slower rate," the journalist wrote.

"The Ministry of Culture and Tourism's marketing and promotional activities had a positive impact on the growth of travel and tourism in the country."

Its popularity means it could be a good time to take a solo holiday to Turkey; the country is particularly popular with people looking for historical attractions, such as the classical sites of Ephesus and Troy.