Antalya - The Jewel on the Turkish Coast

This seaside holiday resort that sits along the same part of the southern Turkish coast as Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye is quickly becoming a popular destination with travelers from Western Europe. The growth of tourism in this area of Turkey was always predicted but the speed with which that growth has accelerated is taking a few people by surprise.

The coastline in this part of the country is certainly impressive and a warm, reliable climate plus the clear blue waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, give it plenty of features with which to attract holidaymakers. Antalya is years behind some of its Western Mediterranean counterparts in terms of development and modernization, but that will ultimately work to its advantage as long the authorities keep things under control.

The local authorities have already identified and approved certain areas around Antalya for further development to support the tourism sector. These include an area of land close to Lara Beach for the development of a Theme park in a parcel of land between the beach/support road and the main coastal highway. Another area identified for development is close to the village of Belek where plans for a sports tourism complex are proposed.

Golfers are already talking about Belek becoming one the primary resort areas for golf courses, with some are promoting its potential to rival places like Malaga and the Algarve. There are already somewhere in the region of 10 operational courses in the region with talks of at least the same number again being built in the next decade. Many of the courses are being built in conjunction with luxury hotels and not relying on the purchase of associated holiday homes as was the case in the Algarve.

The inland areas are also capable of attracting sportsmen and women in disciplines other than the typical holiday sports such as golf and tennis. The Antalya region already has some recognized climbing areas and mountain biking also finds favor in the vast wooded plains and hillsides away from the sea. There is even a small ski resort in the Taurus mountains.

For several years already, Turkey has had a good reputation in the eyes of people purchasing holiday homes and villas. In the past the first choices of holiday home buyers would have been places like the Canaries, Mallorca, France or Southern Spain in areas like Malaga, Nerja and Murcia. But now Turkey is gaining ground and there are many locations with large scale housing developments such as Izmir. Further south is the town of Kusadasi which is currently being totally transformed by all the investment in the area.

Support for new businesses and the setting of appropriate standards of development is always a balancing act for authorities that are charged with promoting growth and investment, while at the same preserving the geographical and cultural attractions that started to bring tourists to an area in the first place. There are many examples already where this has been done successfully and also not done very well, so the Turkish authorities have plenty of experience to call upon.

Associated businesses such theme parks, water parks and other attractions are also important if areas are to attract families, and no resort of any scale can hope to survive without meeting the needs of those with children.

Events are also an important part of any thriving tourist area and are somewhat lacking in the Antalya area at the moment. Culture in this southern part of Turkey is abundant with thousands of year's worth of history to call upon but until now the local traditional and cultural circles have been largely contained to the Turkish residents. This needs to change and see cultural opportunities being opened up to wider audiences and new events conceived for tourism.

Non traditional events too have a big place and the area could easily start to raise its ambitions in terms of musical, theatrical and sporting productions. There is already a large scale International Film Festival in Antalya and an International Music Festival. A folk music festival takes place during August and there are some performances in the huge ancient amphitheater at Aspendos to the East of Antalya.

There is certainly an audience for more modern music events as can be seen by the very successful night clubs in Bodrum. Apart from the odd small rock festival, contemporary music events are few and far between. Some organizers have even resorted to hosting their own private parties to cater for the demand.

The Canaries would serve as a good template for the Turks. Looking at their flourishing cultural and sporting event calendars, the Canaries promote a surprisingly large number of events given the size of the islands and the fact that tourism has grown steadily on the islands for the past 20 years is a clear example of what can be achieved.

Many people are taking cheap flights to Antalya to experience for themselves the attractions of this growing Turkish holiday area. Read more about holidays in Turkey in other reports by Mark Bartley.

Property Guide to the Turkish Coast

An established package holiday destination, Turkey has recently emerged as one of the hottest new property spots in the Mediterranean. Good beaches, great scenery and prices much lower than the region's more established property markets, like Spain and France, have encouraged huge excitement from holiday home buyers. Despite a difficult year in 2005, when the country's property laws were re-drafted leaving thousands of property transactions frozen for over 6 months, the future looks exciting. New golf courses and marinas, better roads and expanded airports, are adding to the country's appeal, while the possibility of EU membership in the not-too-distant-future, also bodes well for those investing in Turkish property. The rental market is starting to develop in the main resorts, such as Bodrum, Altinkum, Fethiye, Kalkan, Side and Alanya, with short-term and holiday lets arranged through tour operators, management agents or one of the many new rental websites. However, as a word of caution, remember that in an increasingly crowded marketplace, you need to carefully choose your property in order to achieve reliable rental returns.

So where are Turkish Riviera's most popular places to buy?

"We decided to buy a villa in Fethiye because it is a proper town and doesn't close down in the winter," says Tim Goodman, who moved out from Newcastle with his wife Jenny in 2004. "We love our new life, although it took us a while to get used to some things, like the crazy Turkish driving and the summer heat!"

Tim and Jenny have also found it frustrating not to be able to speak to their Turkish neighbours, so they recently started language lessons twice a week.

"Turkish people are so friendly and welcoming, but we wanted to be able to have a conversation," explains Jenny. "It is also useful to have some simple phrases when you have someone working on the house."

Belek is Turkey's foremost golfing centre, with no less than 6 international standard courses. A 20-minute drive from the city of Antalya and airport, the resort has a long stretch of golden sand too. Not surprisingly, Belek is a property hot-spot, with over 35 new developments in the area. Do your research carefully, as not all are offering value for money. Check the details of each development and compare facilities, the size of units and building specifications. Prices start from £119,000 for a three-bedroom semi-detached villa or £145,000 for a detached property bought off-plan.

"Belek is a really exciting area because of the golf and easy access to the airport," says Taylan Gundeslioglu, owner of Letsgototurkey construction and estate agency. "But only recently have good quality properties become available."

Once a Roman slave market, the resort of Side has white sand beaches and some impressive ancient remains, including an amphitheatre and the evocative waterside colonnade of the Temple of Apollo. Due to its archaeological importance, development is strictly controlled around the resort itself, but there are numerous villa and apartment complexes nearby. A two-bedroom apartment typically costs from £55,000-£80,000.

Alanya is one of the Mediterranean's hottest property spots thanks to its Blue Flag beaches, excellent leisure facilities and entertainment. The sea-girt castle - built by the Selcuk Turks - is another popular attraction. The local property market is dominated by apartments, which start from about £65,000 for a two-bedroom unit near the centre of town. But a 15-minute bus ride away to Mahmutlar and prices drop to under £50,000 for a similar size place on a new complex with good facilities.

Dominic Whiting is a journalist and publisher of the Buying in Turkey and Buying in Bulgaria property guides. For more information, newsletters or to order visit: http://www.buyinginguides.info

Holiday Making On Turkey's Southern Coast

Turkey's geopolitical developments have always attracted the outside world to its doorsteps. Having got ruled during the ancient periods by some famous empires of those times, the land continues on being a hub for geopolitical activities even today. With negotiations being on for its merger with the European Union, the region is bound to have a sway on the world politics for many years to come now. No doubt Turkey is known today as one of the most sought after tourist destinations across the globe. The blend of its historical past, modern-day Islam and the beautiful sand-beaches make Turkish holiday making a worthwhile experience.

The 1600 km long stretch of Turkey's Mediterranean coast, also called Turquoise Coast, requires special mention in this context. It offers unparalleled sand-beaches and an advanced tourism infrastructure for the travelers to have leisurely outings. Scenic remains of several ancient towns make your vacationing on this stretch fairly memorable. Room bookings can be made in one of many world-class hotels and resorts in advance. Besides, the water is saltier and warmer compared to what you may encounter on the Black Sea coast.

There is a parallel running mountain range across this coastline, called Taurus Mountain Range, that steeply drops inside the sea water on several places. Rivers have washed down enough sediments over the ages though, to form fertile lands and the sand filled shores for man's requirements. There are several known tourist places on this Southern coast that any traveler might choose to visit and stay at. These start with Bodrum and Marmaris in the far West to Adana and Antakya in the extreme East in a list of many. Mersin, a key port town and the capital of Icel province does also get known as one among these. It is situated in the eastern sector of Turkey's Mediterranean coastline facing Cyprus.

Although, there are many better tourist spots available for vacationing other than Mersin in Turkey, the nature of hotel accommodation and the self-serving properties is far superior in the case of the latter. With an estimated one million population, this port city is a key for shipments to and from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Ground access to Mersin can easily be made through a four lane highway from Mersin East to Adana and Osmaniye. Self-serving apartments, fitted with the latest household facilities and gadgets can be hired for vacationing by the travelers on reasonable rates. You can safely decide to make this town your base camp therefore, while planning out your Turkish vacationing.

Modern Turkey gets applauded for its blend of Western Islam. It also gets recalled for some of the best historical remains one could find anywhere in the world. There is a great deal of traveling possible while visiting many of these archaeological sites and historical places. One may not deny the fact that Turkey has close bonds with the Muslim world due to a common religion, but it has a highly westernized lifestyle at the same time. Those traveling to Turkey will find this aspect of its life appealing. And to add to this traveling bonanza, the Turkish cuisine and hospitality will be of world class, making your stays unparalleled.

Pankaj Mohan is a freelance writer from India, who has been writing articles for TurkeyPartners.com, a provider of holiday houses and vacation apartments in Turkey in the apartment complex Liparis in Mersin Cesmeli.