Bodrum Property Developer

The Turkish authorities are hoping to attract US visitors with a campaign aimed at boosting the country as a low cost European destination…

In a move welcomed by property owners who rent out to holidaymakers during the summer months, the Unlimited Turkey promotion also pushes the country’s historic landmarks and its locations which include mountains and beaches.

‘It is good to see the authorities’ spending money to boost visitor numbers. There are a lot of property owners who rely on the income from holidaymakers in the summer who are worried that this year will be a disaster,’ said Graham Holding who has properties in Bansko and Antalya.

‘I know property investors in Bulgaria who are really scared right now as they have no bookings at all for the summer. Knowing that Turkey is part of a major advertising campaign in the US means that we can also target these markets,’ he added.

The extensive campaign includes billboards in prominent outdoor locations, advertisements on television, in print in nationwide newspapers and magazines and on double-decker buses throughout key US markets.

It promotes Turkey as an eclectic destination with modern cities, beaches, historical landmarks and mountains that have the old world European charm as well as being affordable.

‘This integrated campaign will position Turkey as the go-to destination for anyone wishing to experience the history and allure of European culture. Turkey’s tourism product appeals to all types of travellers. Our destination offers some of the finest beaches, mountains and cities such as Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya and the Black Sea,’ said Hasan Zongur, Attaché for Turkish Tourism and Culture in New York.

He also pointed out that while some countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece are expecting significant drops in visitors this year Turkey is anticipating a growth in tourists.

‘We are actively working on promoting Turkey and making sure we don’t see a drop in visitors,’ he added. The Turkish Government is expecting a five per cent growth in visitor numbers for 2009.

According to a leading British tour operator, Turkey has knocked Spain off the top spot in terms of being the most popular summer holiday destination for Britons in 2008.

This may not seem so significant, until one remembers that Spain had dominated that top spot for the past 30 years. It seems that the appeal of Turkey is rising and rising and in the words of the Association of British Travel Agents, Turkey is enjoying “spectacular growth,” according to Rhiannon Davies from Shelter Offshore, an online publication.

The World Travel and Tourism Council predict that Turkey’s period of growth has really only just begun and that over the coming decade the rate of growth in the tourism sector will reach at least 5 percent annually. Fantastic news for a nation that is already seeing its economy go from strength to strength.

In recent weeks the nation’s currency has slightly recovered from deep falls against the dollar, and as Turkey continues its slow but steady march towards European Union entry, doing everything that is required of it to secure entry, international confidence is rising in this nation.

In the interim, however, the Turkish economy is considered emerging, the nation is largely cash driven and therefore property prices remain low. Mortgages are expected to boost the market, and as big name property developers such as Dubai’s Emaar Properties enter the real estate market, so internationally speaking, interest in Turkey’s brand new and exciting property market is increasing.

All of these positive factors mean that for anyone with a relatively small amount of capital that they want to invest, Turkey could make a very exciting and potentially profitable choice. You can buy in today at a low price, (apartments in coastal areas start from just 35,000 pounds), benefit from one of the first mortgages, rent out your home to the increasing tourism demand and ultimately profit from your property when you come to sell it as it will have likely risen in price as demand for real estate increases and values rise in line with this demand.

For a low cost, low risk entry into property investing, Turkey makes a fantastic choice. What’s more, there is no denying the level of interest in Turkey as a holiday and an investment location, therefore an investor buying in today is not leading the field and therefore shouldering all the risk, they would just be getting in on an early wave of real estate demand. They probably stand the best chance of riding the wave of rising property market success in Turkey, which is why property in Turkey is a good investment to consider.

Source – Hurriyet Daily News – 1^st April 2009