Turkey is..

Turkey is number 3, according to "A place in the Sun" presenter Amanda Lamb. After choosing her 20 best places to buy in the sun Turkey has come out number 3.

   "A country with something for everyone."

1. The Adam & Eve Hotel in Belek has been voted “The Sexiest Hotel In The World”
2. Sweden Now Joins The List Of Countries Backing Turkeys Eu Membership
3. Turkey Is Now The Main Competitor To Spain When It Comes To Brits Buying A Home Abroad
4. The Last Year Has Seen A Huge Increase In The Number Of Brits Choosing Turkey As Their Permanent Home
5. Turkey Now Boasts The 16th Highest Production Of Motor Vehicles In The World
6. China And Syria Pledge Continuing Commitment To Turkish Tourism



CONTINUING REASONS TO PURCHASE IN TURKEY

1. Property Prices Still Lower Than Other European Countries
2. Some Of The Best Beaches In Europe
3. Antalya Has Excellent Air And Road Networks
4. Airlines increasing capacity so property investment growth is excellent.
5. Cost Of Living Is A Fraction Of That In The Uk
6. Turkey stands out with a "tasty" market.
  

   The combination of rising house prices and Turkish property market reforms has  made the country an increasingly popular destination for international investors. In the last year alone, property sales to foreigners soared by 59% to 2.9USD.
                                                      Source - Turkish Daily News Monday April 14th
 

Beleks rise from agricultural town

The rise of Belek from farmland to one of Turkey's tourism centres has been highlighted by one press agency.
Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) has chartered the progression of the town from its agricultural beginnings in 4th Century BC to an area which proudly boasts of being the number one spot for golf in Turkey.

However, after the sudden explosion of construction when tourism in Turkey picked up in the nineties, there are fears of overcrowding and congestion in the tourist areas along the Turkish Riviera.

Ismail Avsar, Alanya's deputy mayor, expressed his reassurance that Belek would not allow itself to disintegrate into an overloaded, unattractive tourist spot.

He made a pledge "to avoid the mistakes which have been made by other tourist destinations around the Mediterranean".

Belek is good investment opportunity says expert

"Buying blindly" into an off-plan coastal site is not wise and property investors looking at Turkey should consider other areas, according to one Turkish property expert.

Andy Pyke, Turkishpropertypeople managing director has warned against buying from lesser-known firms and told investors stick to "well established developers".

He also highlighted Belek as an area ripe for investment, explaining why its golf courses are set to be a permanent draw for visitors.

"There is a whole area known as the 'golf coast' and that is called Belek, it has eight or nine international standard golf courses," said Mr Pyke.

He went on to point out that at some stages of the year, incredibly, it is possible to ski and go to the beach on the same day.

"In certain months of the year you could ski in the morning and hit the beach in the afternoon."

Belek's internationally-renowned golf courses include the National Golf Club and those endorsed by Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo.

Turkey is big golf destination

Turkey has been named as one of the top golf destinations in the world by an international golf survey.

The recently published Golf Benchmark Survey named Turkey in a group of elite golf destinations which included Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal and Turkey in Europe, as well as the USA, Dubai and Thailand

Figures from the survey show that the number of golf courses and players in eastern Europe has tripled since 2000.

Belek is undoubtedly the golfing capital of Turkey if not south-eastern Europe, with a large number of top class courses for players to take on.

Highlighting the beauty of the area and the challenging nature of some of its courses, the Belek Tourism Center says: "The perfect sight of the golf courses presents the wonderful panorama and landscape of the neighbourhood while providing the golf players with terrific golf pleasure and struggle.

As a result of the tourism that the town generates 'golf villas' are catching the eye of foreign buyers as they are considerably cheaper than those in other European golf areas.


 

TURKEY IS A WELL KEPT SECRET FOR INVESTORS

Turkey is a "well kept secret" for the retirees and expats who have bought property in the fast growing property market of the country, according to one expert.

Mike Dunkerley, director of the Global Property Group, cited the cheap house prices and low cost of living as reasons why Turkey is becoming even more popular with British retirees.

Mr Dunkerley said: "Money in the bank earns 18 per cent interest so you can live off savings."

He added: "There are expat British communities doing precisely this. Sunshine and no worries!"

One of the most popular places among expats from the UK is Belek, where the range of golf courses on offer, coupled with nature spots suchas the Kursunlu waterfall, make the area an attractive proposition for foreign property investors.

Turkey praised by European parliament

Turkey has won the praise of the European Parliament, as the country continues its march towards expected full EU membership by the year 2012.

Members of the European Parliament invited Turkey to The resolution on EU-Turkey relations congratulates Turkey on its commitment and "welcomes the become part of the European Energy Community.

The move was taken in light of the country's "importance as a transit hub for gas supplies".


 

Brits can save money on medical treatment in Turkey

Brits thinking of buying a property in Turkey with the intention of moving over can look forward to cheaper medical care, one newspaper has highlighted.

The Mail on Sunday has named Turkey among the European countries in which healthcare costs compare favourably with the UK.

"Strange as it may sound, it is the perfect holiday for a growing number of Britons who cannot get treatment on the NHS and do not want - or cannot afford - to pay big bills for going private," the publication reported.

It is good news for holidaymakers from the UK travelling to play golf in Belek – if any are unfortunate enough to pick up an injury while away, medical costs will be a fraction of what they would have been in the UK.

 

Turkey will  meet  tourism target says industry head

Murat Dedeman, president of the Tourism Investors Association, says he is confident Turkey will meet its target of 23 million tourists by the end of the year.

The tourism chief has also predicted that the goal of $20 billion (£9.8 billion) income in 2007 will also be achieved in 2007, reports the Turkish Daily News.

Proposals have been set out by Mr Dedeman to assist the Turkish tourism industry to expand even further - they include the setting up of a National Tourism Council.

"In 2010, we would like to increase the number of tourists to 30 million, and the income from it to $27 billion (£12.2 million). The current numbers suggest this goal can be achieved," said Mr Dedeman.

Among the areas contributing to the numbers of visitors to Turkey each year is Belek - Turkey's golf region - which offers players the chance to take in a variety of different courses, some designed by famous professionals.

 

Turkey moves forward towards EU

Turkey moved further towards EU membership with a commitment to EU reforms signaled by meetings with policymakers.

Independent Commission on Turkey (ICT) delegates visited the country on a three-day trip which involved meetings with Turkish government officials and civil society groups, reports the Today's Zaman.

The ICT will return next year to make fresh observations and file a new report, which includes an assessment on whether the EU has kept its promises.

Hans van der Broek, an ICT member, is in no doubt that Turkey is dedicated to becoming an EU member.

"I was much struck by the fact that the government here has decided to develop their own program, in the sense that they want to meet benchmarks that are set up by the EU as conditions for membership," he said.

Cities such as Belek have already fostered a continuing good relationship with the international community.

Belek's many golf courses draw people from all over the world, from pros to beginners, to come and play at the different clubs, making it an emerging favourite location for overseas property buyers.

Boost to the Economy and the Property Market

The World Bank announced on Monday that it would provide Turkey with a $500 million (£250 million) loan to support economic reforms and boost employment.

This will mean increased investment and more employment opportunities. Also
the new mortgage law, due to come into effect in September, is one of the major reforms set to improve Turkey's economy. As a result, more people in Turkey will now be able to own their own homes at lower costs, which will boost the property and construction markets.

The European Union (EU) will provide 80 million euros for the Turkish government, which is getting prepared for a reduction by five points in Social Security Authority (SSK) premiums to support employment in 2008.

Following negotiations on the ‘Human Resources Operational Program’ the EU has decided to provide 80 million euros for employment in Turkey in the upcoming three years.  This aid will be used for the restructuring of Turkish Employment Organizations (Iþ-Jurür) development of private employment bureaus, and the participation of women in employment on a larger scale.

Tourism

Tourism in Turkey increased by 20% in 2007 over the previous year. To further boost tourism, the Culture and Tourism Ministry has allocated $120 for the promotion of Turkey this year.  It will widen its advertising campaign to include emerging markets such as China and the Far East using films shot in 5 tourist destinations in Turkey, including Antalya. The effects director of the latest James Bond movie will be the visual director of these films.

It is hoped that a further boost to tourism will be achieved by the reduction on VAT on tourism due next year next year.

Many foreigners have opened businesses in the Antalya region, including  estate agencies and restaurants. Foreigners who have bought property in Turkey are the best advertisement for tourism and attract many of their countrymen to the area.

According to Today's Zaman, the number of foreign-capital companies set up between June 2003 and July 2006 increased by 136 per cent and there are now 1,179 British companies operating in Anatolia.

Property Market

Turkey is a popular choice for second homes and voted 3rd most popular holiday destination in a European country  by ‘A Place in the Sun’.

A poll completed by www.self-catering-breaks.com  concluded that almost half of Brits who choose to buy second homes are choosing to buy overseas rather than in their own UK.  It seems that overseas properties are an investment and part of a pension fund.

Overseas investment properties

Demand for property in Turkey is on the increase!!  Since 2003, overseas investors have invested £3.76 billion or US$7.2 billion into Turkish property.  Demand for property has increased revenue from property sales by foreigners by 59% in 2006 against 2005, to an amount of £1.5 billion, $2.9 billion.  In the last 4 years 66,000 sales to foreigners have taken place of which approx 13,000 of these are British.

Mobile Phones

Until recently use of Turkish sim cards has been blocked on new mobile phones purchased in the UK.  Ýt is now possible with the  purchase a new Turkish sim card from the Turkcell shop  to register a UK phone for use with a Turkish sim card.  A week after registration the UK phone can be used with a Turkish sim card.  At present the cost of the sim card plus 100 kontors is only 14lira or a sim card with 250 kontors only 29lira

Turkish Gas

For the first time ever, all homes in Turkey wýll have access to and be able to use Turkish gas in their homes.  For years the majority of people in Turkey have been heating their homes with imported gas from such countries as Iran and Russia but now the gas will be transported from Duzce and sold to distribution firms by AKSa Energy.

This means that Turkey is likely to experience cheaper energy prices and the benefits will be for the economy as well as for those who own property in Turkey.

Golf News

Golfing champion Bernard Langer will oversee the opening of the Rixos Bernard Langer golf course near Belek at the end of 2007.

The course costing $40m, designed by Langer  is the latest in a number of high investmentgolfing projects in the region and will include an exclusive 18 hole course.  Langer turned professional in 1972 and has won prominent world titles since then to become fully recognised when he became a member f the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007.  He ranks second in career wins on the European tour.  The Belek area now boasts 8 championship golf coures including those designed with Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomery.  There are currently 3 under construction.

Beautiful Beaches. We all know bout Side’s beautiful beaches but now they hve been awarded Blue flag awards.  Out of a total of 235 blue flags awarded to Turkish beaches, 166 were in the Antalya region alone.  The Side council has also allocated £3.5 million to improve the local infrastructure including water, drainage, electricity and CCTV cameras.  Improvements to public transport and multi-lingual signs are also planned to help to promote all-year tourism.

New Light Railway in Antalya

A 11 kilometre light railway has been approved for Antalya. to  link north western parts of the city with the centre and will be built along the main dual carriage way.  This should improve transport links and alleviate traffic congestion in the city.

Clothes Shopping.  GAP, one of our favourite casual clothes retailers, is to open 90 Gap stores and 20 Banana Republic outlets in Turkey and Saudi Arabia over the next five years.  We wait in anticipation for the first store in the Antalya region.

New Energy Sources increased in Turkey

Turkey is becoming less  reliant on outside energy sources and has increased its production of crude oil and natural gas.  There are now 25 wells in areas near the Syrian border where the Turkish Petroleum Company has been digging.

Also Hydrogen energy production is to be increased over the next 15 years which will help to stem the damaging effects of climate change.

Eco-Friendly Appliances

The drought and water shortages afflicting Turkey have led consumers to want more eco-friendly products.  Industrialists are trying to meet those demands.  In the latest instance, Turkey’s leading bathroom appliances producer Ece Banyo presented its new water closets that conserve water in Istanbul yesterday.  The new water closets use four-and-a-half litres of water instead of nine.  This way a family of four can save between 7,000 and 39,000 litres of its annual water consumption by using these closets.