New Tesco Kipa Complex rumoured for Didim

UK supermarket megabrand Tesco took over the Turkish market chain Kipa in 2003, since when it has been working hard to move its market position from 6th to 1st among major grocery retailers in Turkey (Migros and Carrefour currently occupy the top two spots). Tesco Kipa owns markets and hypermarkets in Bodrum, Izmir and Antalya, as well as other 11 locations, and is hoping to expand its reach by announcing 8 new locations by the end of 2007.

There has been much speculation about the probability that Didim might be one of the planned locations for a Tesco Kipa hypermarket complex. Didim was included on the map of significantly populated towns in Turkey in a special presentation for Tesco Kipa investors earlier this year - even though that was based on the 2000 census results. The massive increase in population since foreigners have been allowed to directly own property here will have expanded numbers way beyond the 37,000 captured 7 years ago. Add to that Tourism Today's estimate that Didim's population swells tenfold in the summer months and the appeal to Tesco Kipa becomes even more evident.

According to The Didymian newspaper, Mayor of Didim Mumin Kamaci is aware of Tesco's interest in Didim and welcomes the plans, but has not been formally approached by the chain in regards to the project. It is believed that Tesco has already carried out a feasibility study on opening a mall in Didim and is in final negotations with landowners before making any official announcements.

The rumoured location of the mall is on the Akbuk Road, which runs from Yenihisar's Cumhuriyet Caddesi, out towards Akbuk and on towards Bodrum and the airport. It is hoped that the shopping complex will include a Tesco Kipa hypermarket, stores and a cinema, similar to the one opened last month in Kusadasi.

Sources: Tourism Today , The Didymian

Amazing new pictures of Didim's new Marina

These astonishing pictures from Dogusmarina.com.tr, the website of the company constructing Didim D-Marin show for the first time the true scale of the marina, set to transform the entire complexion of Didim and the surrounding area.

Doğus Holdings and the civil engineer in charge of the project hope that the marina will be finished 8 months before schedule, in January 2009. According to an interview in The Didymian, 03/11/07, Kemal Atabek says that interest in the project has been even greater than anticipated, and that in addition to the original plans, a ferry platform, depot and hangar have also been added to the plans.

Berths at the marina will be available for long leases directly from D-Marin and will offer incoming boats TV and internet connection, as well as electric and water services.

You can see the original pictures on the D-Marin website here and read more about the development of the marina in The Didymian newspaper, whose website can be found here.

Massive increase in visitors to Turkey, and steady increase in returning Turks

According to a report released by the Turkish Institute of Statistics, Turkey is getting hotter! The number of visitors and returning citizens has seen a sharp increase over the same time last year, signalling a strong upturn in the fortunes of the Turkish tourist industry and indicating a resurgence in Turkey’s appeal to its expatriate citizens.

The numbers are taken from border control figures and measure the number of people entering and leaving Turkey via plane, boat, car and rail. These have been compared with data taken from the same period one year earlier and show an emphatic change both in visitor numbers and in nationalities.

The figures are those from September 2007, outside the main domestic tourist season but a popular month for visitors who are free from the restrictions of school term times, and are compared against September 2006.

The overall number of foreign visitors to Turkey went up by an impressive 23.5% to 2,799,276 from 2,267,146, with plane the most popular mode of entry - chosen by 29.6% more people this year than last. Arrivals by sea also increased impressively, by 14.6% - both figures suggesting wealthier overseas visitors compared with the previous year.

Wealth is also suggested by the top ten nations favouring Turkey as a destination (who make up an overwhelming 63.9% of Turkey’s foreign visitors): Germany, Russia, the UK, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Iran, USA, Ukraine, Israel and France; with popularity growing most among Americans and members of the former Soviet states. Obviously, even the fragile condition of the US economy and the poor performance of the dollar against the Turkish lira can’t put Americans off Turkey!

An upturn is also indicated in the number of Turkish citizens returning to Turkey, whether for a visit or more permanently: up by 11.3% from 587,845 to 654,362, though this is still outweighed by the number of departures in the same month, down 1.6% from 963,509 to 948,195.

The news is particularly pleasing for those who’ve been keen to see Turkey’s vitally important tourist industry thriving: investors both private and commercial; travel agencies; property developers; banks; and all the millions of companies offering services and products aimed at foreign visitors. It also underlines the wisdom of investment in quality attractions such as Didim D-Marin megayacht marina and the two golf courses planned for Altinkum at Third Beach and Mercimek.

Source: TURKISH STATISTICAL INSTITUTE, PRIME MINISTRY, REPUBLIC OF TURKEY PRESS RELEASE NUMBER 172, OCT 23 2007: NUMBER OF ARRIVING-DEPARTING FOREIGNERS AND CITIZENS, SEPTEMBER 2007

© Dizayn Homes 2007

Disneyland in Izmir - from The Didymian 29/09/07

Six million tourists per year are expected to visit Izmir and its vicinity with the Disneyland Project. Tourism centres such as Cesme, Kusadasi and Didim, all located near Izmir, are due to benefit from this project.

Murat Haluk Oncel, a CHP representative of Konak district city council in Izmir, propsed the establishment of Disneyland in Izmir. Oncel, stating that he looks forward to support for his initiative, said: "In case of materialisation of the project, the economic and cultural outlook of Izmir will change and siz million tourists per year will visit Izmir, causing the economy to take off."

Oncel, reminding that Ankara and Antalya also want to house the project, continued: "There are initiatives underway to establish an Izmir Disneyland; a theme entertainment park currently available only in five countries in the world, and Disneyland officials are due to visit Izmir in the coming days."

Oncel, pointing out that the best place for the project - expected to generate 1.5 billion USD worth economic input per year - is the Culture Park, and added further: "Between six to seven million tourists per year will visit Izmir. The economy will take off. Transformed into a world city, Izmir will experience an economic boom. Our children will not have to visit Disneylands abroad. Our social understanding will be enhanced further by the establishment of the world of Disneyland entertainment in Izmir. The project, expected to cost between 500 million and 1 billion USD, could be built up on a 400,000m² area. The most suitable place for this project would be the CUlture Park Urla, whilst theb Menderes, Cigli and Kaynaklar areas may also be considered suitable places for this project."

Oncel informed us that, in the scope of this initiative, the Province Disneyland Coordination Board had invited the Paramount Pictures (Walt Disney Production) representatives to visit Izmir and that the project could be accomplished in different ways. He made the following proposals: "The project could be offered to the Disneyland Company on a build-operate-transfer basis. We must bring in this global investment to Izmir by working together." Oncel, warning that Ankara also has shown great interest in the project, added: "Izmir, particularly with its tourism identity, makes the establishment of Disneyland obligatory. The proximity of Izmir to tourism hot spots such as Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary, Selcuk, Bodrum, Didim and Marmaris makes the establishment of this entertainment centre in Izmir more feasible".

This is in addition to the more modest 1,500m² park planned for Samsun on the Black Sea coast, announced in July 2007 by Turkish Daily News. The Turkish Daily News can be found online and at most newsagents in tourism areas of Turkey. The Didymian can be found online at www.tuneintoturkey.com and at selected outlets throughout Didim, priced at only 1ytl.

Got £43,000? Why not buy a penthouse?

This beautiful duplex apartment was finished and furnished in Nov 2006 and has never been used.

The apartment is fully furnished with everything included, from beds - with the mattresses still in the packaging - to teaspoons. Everything is brand new and ready for use.

The property itself has marble floors and double glazing throughout, and tasteful curtains have been fitted to all rooms. There are 4 bedrooms on 2 floors, one double, one twin and two single. Each floor has its own bathroom with shower. There is a large kitchen with patio sliding doors and dining table. The kitchen is equipped with hob and household accessories, eg. pans/glasses/plates/cutlery.

The location is behind Migros and close to the new Altinkum Marina road, very accessible to the main town (within easy walking distance) and the resort, a short bus ride away. It is also close to the future location of the covered bazaar, plans for which have been announced only recently.

The price of this property is an amazing £43,000 meaning that you can buy and move in for less than £45,000 including all costs.

For more information about this exceptional deal, CONTACT US or call Laura ASAP on +90 256 811 4451.

Didim Property of the Week!

This is a truly amazing deal - for only £30,000, a 110m² duplex in a popular area of Didim, close to the former Gima Supermarket (now owned by the international Carrefour corporation).

The property has 2 double & 1 single beds, bathroom, 2 balconies, a 25m² open-plan kitchen/living area and an amazing 20m² roof terrace!

And the development even has its own swimming pool.

On the other hand if you'd rather invest your money closer to home, how about this superb opportunity to own your own parking space in between Old Street & Clerkenwell for exactly the same price? Unlike our duplex penthouse, it's only a leasehold but I'm sure it's a good investment! Available from Foxtons: Parking Space for sale, only £30,000

No, but seriously: for more information on this fantastic property either contact us directly at enquiry@dizaynhomes.com or check out some more pictures on our website: £30,000 Altinkum Duplex

HSBC Comes to Didim - and brings Mortgages for Didim Property Buyers

As if prices of property in Didim weren't reasonable enough, now there is an extra reason for taking the plunge. Until this year it was impossible to get a mortgage for a property in Turkey, no matter whether the property buyer was Turkish or otherwise.

But now HSBC, among other banks, is offering a straightforward mortgage system for foreigners and Turkish property buyers alike.

HSBC's service is designed for completed, not off-plan, properties and allows buyers to borrow up to 75% of the property value over a 30 year term (for YTL transactions) or 50% over a 10 year term (for USD / EUR transactions). It even guarantees no penalties for early repayment, a subject originally of much concern.

Check out the details on HSBC Turkey's great English-language website. I'm so impressed I think I'm about to change banks myself!

And as for personal service - well HSBC opened up a new branch on Ataturk Bulvari, Didim's main road, just about a month ago!

DIDIM'S NEW CINEMA: A canny local investor has spotted a huge gap in Didim's facilities and decided to do something about it.

Mehmut Gokdemir, the neighbourhood leader of one of Didim's most populous districts, has already started work on the 3-screen, 400-seat capacity movie theatre. He is in negotiations with film companies to provide the latest quality movies, both for international and Turkish audiences.

The location of the new theatre is well thought-out, accessible to visitors from the Altinkum AND Akbuk areas: on the main Didim-Akbuk road running from Yenihisar centre and the Belediye (council offices) to Akbuk and then on to Bodrum. The cinema will be close to the Opet petrol station and the structure is already visible.

Didim's cinema is the latest piece of good news for Didim following the start of construction on the new marina, Didim D-Marin, due for completion in 2009.

To see investment opportunities close to the new cinema site, check out our Properties in Didim /Yenihisar from Dizayn Homes.

Source: Voices Newspaper

No more English water bills for Didim's British residents - but free Turkish lessons instead.

Didim has long been very welcoming of its British residents, even to the point of providing water bills in English.

Sadly for those whose Turkish is not up to deciphering meter readings and payment instructions, Didim Council recently responded to pressure from the Turkish Language Foundation who pointed out that the English bills were unconstitutional. The water bills, formerly in English for British homeowners, will now all be issued in Turkish.

But that isn't the end of the story. Didim Council have come up with another plan, bound to please the Turkish Language Foundation and with far wider benefits than being able to understand water bills: free Turkish lessons! The lessons, aimed at beginners, will run on a three-monthly cycle throughout the year, with more advanced lessons planned for the future.
Source: Today's Zaman 29 March 2007

Of course, you don't have to negotiate with desk clerks at the council, or the electric company, to make sure your bills are paid on time. Here at Dizayn Homes we will help you to set up direct debits and keep Didim home ownership worry-free!

Two new Golf Courses proposed for Didim

A big increase in investment in Didim is expected with confirmation that land has been allocated for two 18-hole golf courses and supporting facilities in the area.

The locations of the courses have been chosen and first-level analysis done of the areas. One site is at Golludam, north of the Didim-Akbuk road, further inland as you approach the 5-star Caprice Hotel at Akbuk. The other is on the seafront just across a small bay from Yesilkent, at Mercimek, an attractive location Altinkum boat trip veterans may be familiar with as many of the tour boats stop there to serve lunch.

The proposals are for a 49 year lease and the Mercimek /Yesilkent location would also include a 5-star hotel or combination hotel & holiday village, with 420 bed capacity.

While investors have yet to be found for the courses, there are rumours that a big Spanish golf resort company is interested in at least one of the locations, and this is hardly surprising with such a large and rapidly-growing expat community, not to mention the coming marina at Didim with its influx of high-end tourism.

To see investment opportunities available close to the proposed golf courses, check out our Yesilkent properties for the Mercimek location, and our Akbuk properties for the Golludam location.

Sources: Voices Newspaper (original location image) & Turkey Ministry of Culture & Tourism website (other details)

Didim Marina Plans Revealed!

It seems most appropriate to start this, the first issue of Didim Dizayns, with among the biggest news to hit Didim in the past years: the plans for Didim's long-awaited marina!
The design for the 623-berth yacht marina, which includes a heliport, customs and special shopping centre, will cost $50 million and covers 287,000 m2.

The site lies between Third Beach and Parlementerler, to the west of Altinkum and the marina, named Didim D-Marina, will be the largest in the Southern Aegean, including Bodrum's 450-berth site.

Construction is being carried out by Dogus Holdings, one of the biggest organisations in Turkey, who will also have a 25 year operating lease. Dogus also has interests in Volkswagen, Hyatt Regency and Porsche, and also built the marina at Turkey's luxury resort of Turgutreis. The website for this gives an excellent idea of what we can expect from Didim: http://www.dogusmarina.com.tr/index.html

Didim D-Marina signifies a new lease of life for the already buoyant Didim region, as it will open up the area to a whole new tourism market of yacht owners, gulet cruises, and tour boats as well as winter boatbuilding and drydock services.

To see investment opportunities close to the Marina location, check out Property in Altinkum from Dizayn Homes.