Alanya (pronounced IPA: [ˈælənyːɑ]) is a seaside resort and district of Antalya Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey, 74.6 miles (120 km) from the city of Antalya. The municipal district, which includes the city center, has close to 400,000 inhabitants. The population is almost entirely of Anatolian origin, but is home to almost 10,000 European residents, with a growing presence in the city and its economy. Because of its natural strategic position on a small peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea below the Taurus Mountains, Alanya has been a local stronghold for many Mediterranean based empires, including the Ptolemaic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. Alanya's greatest political importance came in the Middle Ages with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm under the rule of Alaeddin Kayqubad I, from whom the city derives its name. The relatively moderate Mediterranean climate, natural attractions, and historic heritage makes Alanya a popular destination for tourists, and responsible for 9% of Turkey's tourism sector. Tourism has risen since 1958 to become the dominant industry in the city, resulting in a corresponding increase in city population. Mayor Hasan Sipahioğlu of the Motherland Party the has led the city since 1999.