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.