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.