Turkey’s property market still strong as total homes sold in Turkey rise 24.5% in 2009

Property Investors looking to buy property in Turkey will be pleased with the news that 2009 showed significant activity in Turkey’s property market. According to the Ekonomist (Turkeys weekly economy magazine), 116,000 units of homes were sold during the final quarter of 2009 in Turkey, showing a 25.2 percent increase compared to same period a year earlier.

The total number of homes in Turkey that were sold in 2009 was 532,000, compared to 427,000 in 2008, with an increase of 24.5 percent. Interest rate cuts and tax cut implementations were factors seen to have boosted property sales in Turkey.

The Turkish economy has been showing significant resiliance to the economic challenges with the global downturn. With a constant stream of foreign investors doubled with a domestic shortfaul in housing supply, Turkey’s real estate market is seeing prices growing far more dramatically than expected. Turkey became the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to introduce a sales index for real estate (REMI) in 2002. This national index for the real estate sector is considered to be a solid indicator of property investment activity and development in the country.

Turkeys Blue Flag beaches to increase in 2010

To date Turkey has been awarded Blue flags for 286 beaches and 14 Marinas including Port Göcek Marina. Now with another bumper tourist season ahead, the ‘Blue Flag Jury’ convened last week to decide which resorts would win the the Blue flags for 2010.

Throughout the tourism industry, The Blue Flag is coveted as a stamp of approval for environmental cleanliness and safety. The program also awards “voluntary eco-label” to over 3,450 beaches and marinas in around 41 countries globally.

A series of strict criteria must be met by beaches and marinas if they wish to fly the flag and Turkey has been consistently top 5 in the world over the last few years, for its number of certified Blue Flag beaches.

Harvey Nichols plans to open a 2nd store in Turkey

Harvey Nichols the luxury department store chain from the U.K is looking beyond the U.k now for the promise of more sales. The Knightsbridge-based retailer has secured plans to set up a 2nd store in the Turkish capital of Ankara after the success of its first venture in Istanbul. Harvey Nichols has signed a deal with Demsa, a Turkish investment group.

In the face of sluggish demand from customers at its seven stores in Britain and Ireland, Harvey Nichols is now also looking to other emerging markets such as Turkey, Brazil and Russia.

Turkey is a market that is becoming more attractive day by day and the list of international brands that have entered into Turkey is expanding at a rapid rate.

Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg team in Belek for winter camp football training

The major Austrian football team Red Bull Salzburg, has become yet another latest in a line of European club sides who have chosen Antalya’s Belek district as a winter camp destination in preparation for the second half of the season.

The defending Austrian League champion has led a group of 40 to Belek, with players, coaches, club staff and a 20-person strong group of international journalists on board for its stay on the Mediterranean coast.

The Red Bulls will spend seven days in Belek and will play FC Lucerne on Saturday and Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday as part of its preparations. Both games will be played at the Calista Luxury Resort’s football fields.

Belek, is fast becoming a favorite winter camp retreat for many domestic and international football clubs for their winter training. The teams are attracted by the good weather conditions, reasonable hotel prices and less distraction.

In addition to many Turkish clubs and Red Bull Salzburg, Germany’s Bayern Leverkusen, Ukraine’s Metalist Kharkiv, Russia’s Spartak Moscow, Austria’s Rapid Wien, the Netherlands’ Feyenoord and other teams from around the world have been training in Belek.

Turkey will be the 13th largest economy in the world by 2026 according to the IMF

Turkeys status as an emerging market economy is showing strong indications to remain firmly on that course for the next 15 years. According to data from the International Monetary Fund, Turkey will be the world’s 13th-largest economy in 2026.

The Turkish economy will grow to the 13th largest in the world in 2026, outpacing a number of major economies such as Italy and Canada, a recent study using International Monetary Fund (IMF) figures has predicted.

Turkey, which was ranked 17th in the globe for its gross domestic product, will step up and rank 16th this year with Turkeys share of global GDP expecting to increase to 1.35 percent this year.

New awards for Belek in Turkey as a golf destination and holiday resort.

Belek, Turkey yet again secured its position as a top European golfing destination, with a host of international awards and accolades in 2009.

1200 readers of Europe’s highest-circulation golf magazine “Golf Journal” voted for Belek which won the second place in the category for “Best Developing Golf Destination”. The Golf journal also presented “The Best Golf Resort Out Of Europe Award” to Gloria Golf Resort for the second time in a row. Golf Journal, is one of the most important and popular golf journals in Europe.

More flights to Antalya, Turkey from the U.K to operate year round.

TUI tour operators Thomson and First Choice have seen a surge in demand for holidays in Turkey and have added more flights to cover the route to Antalya year round. This is great news for home-owners who now have a wide choice of flight carriers bringing them to Antalya. Thomson airlines will operate the new flights from March 2010 from Gatwick, East Midlands and Manchester Airport.

Easy Jet now offering flights to Turkey from 8 different airports

The European low-cost airline EasyJet has now started flying to Turkey from an additional 5 separate airports in the U.K, increasing the departure points for the flights to Turkey to 8 airports.

According to a written statement by EasyJet, flights to Dalaman and Bodrum will operate from 4 separate airports this summer and as of the 30th of May, 2010, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays of every week there will be flights from London-Gatwick to Antalya,. i.e. three times a week. Tickets are available now for 38.99 Euro.

Opportunities for investors to purchase property in Turkey.

Property in Turkey will be a good investment option for 2010 and investors are being advised to buy now before prices start to increase. A new report from the National Association of Estate Agents which looked at the European property market in 2010 has already predicted price rises by late spring.

Their key pointers for 2010 are;

• The “very best bargains” are likely to be in Turkey.
• Property prices will remain stable within the first quarter of the year so buyers are advised to make a cash offer by March if they want to secure a bargain in any of these countries.
• The supply / demand balance will stabilise once house prices pick up and the pound strengthens against the Euro.

Thomas Cook and TUI to target Russian Tourists

U.K. travel companies Thomas Cook Group PLC (TCG.LN) and TUI Travel PLC (TT.LN) are targeting Russia for expansion. Thomas Cook sees the Russian tour market as a big growth opportunity. Egypt and Turkey are popular destinations for Russian tourists.

Thomas Cook Group continues to review acquisition opportunities, with the focus on emerging markets and independent travel. “In emerging markets, tourism is growing at a faster rate than in our traditional markets. We are particularly encouraged by the opportunities in Russia and China, which are expected to become two of the largest travel markets within the next few years,” stated the company.