A total of 41,182 houses in Turkey have been sold to foreigners. Alanya distrtrict in Antalya, in the south, is the location of 12,331 of those homes, or 29.9 percent of the total number of sales, according to research conducted by the Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO).
Antalya also ranks first in the total number of foreigners who have bought property with 17,871 people, or 24.4 percent.
The research also shows that Alanya is the district of Antalya foreigners prefer the most. Antalya has witnessed the sale of 17,850 houses to the foreigners, 12,331 of which are located in Alanya. However, the district is not so popular for land sales; the number of land sales to foreigners is 20,903, only 501 of which were in Alanya. This comprises only 2.4 percent of the total number of land sales.
“The results of the research by ALTSO show that Alanya is the most favorite place for foreigners to purchase houses in Turkey, while the district is not as much preferred for the purchase of land,” said Kerim Taç, chairman of the Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who noted that there is no need to worry about property sales to foreigners. “Foreign people preferring Antalya and Alanya to invest in will contribute to the further development of the district. We hope that the new regulations will facilitate us to make good use of this opportunity,” added Taç.
Some 10 percent of the residential areas will be open to foreign purchases according to the new regulations, said Taç, noting that this would contribute greatly to the growth of the real estate sector.
“Alanya has 11,599 hectares that are residential, only 146 hectare of which have been sold to foreigners so far. This comprises 1.3 percent of the total number. Only 8.7 percent of land zoned residential is permitted to be sold to foreigners. Some 17,871 foreign people have bought 146.13 hectares of land so far, according to the February 2008 data. The immovable properties bought so far comprises 0.8 per thousand of the district's total area. We do not expect this case to cause any difficulty for the future of the district in the event that the new legislation is passed,” said Taç.
26.4.08
Property in Altinkum
Finance Minister Kemal Unakıtan has approved the decision to hand over land on which housing estates sold to foreigners will be constructed to the Mass Housing Administration (TOKİ). The sales revenue from these projects will be distributed evenly between the Finance Ministry and TOKİ.
TOKİ will undertake the construction of property sold to foreigners in Antalya's Finike, Aydın's Didim and Kuşadası, Bodrum in Muğla, Konak and Çeşme in İzmir and Mersin on the Turkish Riviera.
“The income distribution method will mostly be used in the projects. Initially, we will construct pilot projects in Finike, Didim and Kuşadası, Bodrum, Konak, Çeşme and Mersin. The lands are ready... we are only waiting for the legal regulations to be completed. The project is expected to bring in revenue worth $20 billion. We also plan to extend the project in the future,” said TOKİ Chairman Erdoğan Bayraktar. He said the houses can be paid for in seven to year year installments.
The housing project is based on the “Spanish Model.” It will include holiday villages on the coast of Antalya, Muğla, Aydın, Fethiye and Mersin. These housing estates include tennis courts and golf courses, green areas, walking paths, medical centers, shopping centers and other social facilities. Set to be managed by the private sector, these premises will provide property owners with high-quality services.
Spain's 'mini-cities'
Foreigners tend to prefer houses close to the airport, said authorities from the Finance Ministry, basing the results on recent research. The authorities also noted that the holiday villages had the potential to become "hot spots" in the future.
“Spain's Malaga district has been allocated for construction of houses mainly for the foreigners. Houses of 50 square meters are on sale for 300,000 euros, while those of 70 to 80 square meters sell for 400,000 to 450,000 euros. Spain has mini-cities that include many facilities, from hospitals to shopping centers, designed for foreigners on a total area of 1.5 to 2 million square meters. The sales take place based on the scale models,” authorities said.
The project on the Turkish coast has already begun to attract the attention of many international firms, including those from Spain.
TOKİ will undertake the construction of property sold to foreigners in Antalya's Finike, Aydın's Didim and Kuşadası, Bodrum in Muğla, Konak and Çeşme in İzmir and Mersin on the Turkish Riviera.
“The income distribution method will mostly be used in the projects. Initially, we will construct pilot projects in Finike, Didim and Kuşadası, Bodrum, Konak, Çeşme and Mersin. The lands are ready... we are only waiting for the legal regulations to be completed. The project is expected to bring in revenue worth $20 billion. We also plan to extend the project in the future,” said TOKİ Chairman Erdoğan Bayraktar. He said the houses can be paid for in seven to year year installments.
The housing project is based on the “Spanish Model.” It will include holiday villages on the coast of Antalya, Muğla, Aydın, Fethiye and Mersin. These housing estates include tennis courts and golf courses, green areas, walking paths, medical centers, shopping centers and other social facilities. Set to be managed by the private sector, these premises will provide property owners with high-quality services.
Spain's 'mini-cities'
Foreigners tend to prefer houses close to the airport, said authorities from the Finance Ministry, basing the results on recent research. The authorities also noted that the holiday villages had the potential to become "hot spots" in the future.
“Spain's Malaga district has been allocated for construction of houses mainly for the foreigners. Houses of 50 square meters are on sale for 300,000 euros, while those of 70 to 80 square meters sell for 400,000 to 450,000 euros. Spain has mini-cities that include many facilities, from hospitals to shopping centers, designed for foreigners on a total area of 1.5 to 2 million square meters. The sales take place based on the scale models,” authorities said.
The project on the Turkish coast has already begun to attract the attention of many international firms, including those from Spain.
Bodrums piers
As part of the 'Urban Design Project,' which was launched in January, ports in Bodrum's Göltürkbükü district were demolished but the ones where upper-class tourists spend their holiday were not touched. Hoteliers in the poorer parts of the district raise their voices to stop this unfair treatment
Bodrum - Doğan News Agency
A project launched by the mayor of a popular resort town in the Aegean city of Muğla has drawn harsh criticism from locals as nearly 30 piers in the region have been demolished since the project came into effect in January.
Through the “Urban Design Project,” initiated by Göltürkbükü Mayor Halil İbrahim Kaynar in, nearly 30 piers were demolished in the region's “Anatolian side,” a popular holiday destination for mostly mid-income tourists.
However, Bodrum District Administrator Abdullah Kalkan terminated the project because it was unlicensed and the deluxe piers on the “European side,” where upper-class tourists choose to spend their vacation, were not touched.
Moreover, the construction of bars and restaurants had started on new unlicensed piers before the start of the tourism season.
Following these developments a group of entrepreneurs presented the municipality a petition with 100 signatures and demanded that this unfair treatment is stopped.
'Piers of the poor' demolished
“This was the show of Mayor Kaynar before the opening of the season, said Taşkın Bıçak, who has been operating a hotel in the region for 22 years, voicing similar concerns as many hoteliers in the region.
“The unlicensed project demolished the piers of the poor but the ones where high society spends its holidays were not touched and also new unlicensed ones were constructed. They will anchor their jet-skis in these piers to sunbathe and nobody will touch them. It is impossible for ordinary people to walk and swim in this part of the region. Kaynar's power was only enough for the poor. If such a project is implemented, all piers should have been demolished at the same time,” he said.
Bıçak said they had presented a petition about the issue to the municipality and the district administration. “Because while one side continues making money over the ports, the other side will not be able to take advantage of them.”
'High society wants exclusive piers'
“Prices here are seven to eight times more expensive than in the section where piers were demolished. The rich and high-society people prefer this section. They feel ill-at-ease to see the low-income people, who can't afford to eat and drink here in the same place,” said Yelda Gören, the manager of Fidele Restaurant Beach Club, which is the first facility that has opened the season in the district.
Noting that he has been operating a hotel in Göltürkbükü for 12 years, Gören said Göltürkbükü owes its tourism to those ports.
Gören said, “Our customers are A-plus people. We are the first one that have opened the season here. If the project is in favor of Bodrum, we are ready to demolish our pier. But we want to do it at the end of the season because customers are coming.”
'Nobody will be deprived a privilege'
Kaynar said the “Urban Design Project” had been waiting for 16 months for the approval of the Public Works Ministry, but because of political reasons it was not approved.
He said, “Let nobody think that the piers of the high-society won't be demolished. This project is valid for nearly 7 kilometers along the Göltürkbükü coast. The beauty of the coast has appeared with the removal of the ports. We don't fill the sea but rearrange the coast here. We want the coast to get its natural appearance. The piers in the high-society section turned the sea into a wood cemetery. We could not demolish the other ports because the project was halted by the district administration. But the piers 90 percent of which are unlicensed, will be demolished within three to five months.”
He said nobody would be deprived a privilege and the “European side” would be open to the public. “When the project is finished in two years, Göltürkbükü will be one of the most modern holiday resorts of our country and Europe,” he said.
Bodrum - Doğan News Agency
A project launched by the mayor of a popular resort town in the Aegean city of Muğla has drawn harsh criticism from locals as nearly 30 piers in the region have been demolished since the project came into effect in January.
Through the “Urban Design Project,” initiated by Göltürkbükü Mayor Halil İbrahim Kaynar in, nearly 30 piers were demolished in the region's “Anatolian side,” a popular holiday destination for mostly mid-income tourists.
However, Bodrum District Administrator Abdullah Kalkan terminated the project because it was unlicensed and the deluxe piers on the “European side,” where upper-class tourists choose to spend their vacation, were not touched.
Moreover, the construction of bars and restaurants had started on new unlicensed piers before the start of the tourism season.
Following these developments a group of entrepreneurs presented the municipality a petition with 100 signatures and demanded that this unfair treatment is stopped.
'Piers of the poor' demolished
“This was the show of Mayor Kaynar before the opening of the season, said Taşkın Bıçak, who has been operating a hotel in the region for 22 years, voicing similar concerns as many hoteliers in the region.
“The unlicensed project demolished the piers of the poor but the ones where high society spends its holidays were not touched and also new unlicensed ones were constructed. They will anchor their jet-skis in these piers to sunbathe and nobody will touch them. It is impossible for ordinary people to walk and swim in this part of the region. Kaynar's power was only enough for the poor. If such a project is implemented, all piers should have been demolished at the same time,” he said.
Bıçak said they had presented a petition about the issue to the municipality and the district administration. “Because while one side continues making money over the ports, the other side will not be able to take advantage of them.”
'High society wants exclusive piers'
“Prices here are seven to eight times more expensive than in the section where piers were demolished. The rich and high-society people prefer this section. They feel ill-at-ease to see the low-income people, who can't afford to eat and drink here in the same place,” said Yelda Gören, the manager of Fidele Restaurant Beach Club, which is the first facility that has opened the season in the district.
Noting that he has been operating a hotel in Göltürkbükü for 12 years, Gören said Göltürkbükü owes its tourism to those ports.
Gören said, “Our customers are A-plus people. We are the first one that have opened the season here. If the project is in favor of Bodrum, we are ready to demolish our pier. But we want to do it at the end of the season because customers are coming.”
'Nobody will be deprived a privilege'
Kaynar said the “Urban Design Project” had been waiting for 16 months for the approval of the Public Works Ministry, but because of political reasons it was not approved.
He said, “Let nobody think that the piers of the high-society won't be demolished. This project is valid for nearly 7 kilometers along the Göltürkbükü coast. The beauty of the coast has appeared with the removal of the ports. We don't fill the sea but rearrange the coast here. We want the coast to get its natural appearance. The piers in the high-society section turned the sea into a wood cemetery. We could not demolish the other ports because the project was halted by the district administration. But the piers 90 percent of which are unlicensed, will be demolished within three to five months.”
He said nobody would be deprived a privilege and the “European side” would be open to the public. “When the project is finished in two years, Göltürkbükü will be one of the most modern holiday resorts of our country and Europe,” he said.
More housing required
The Mass Housing Administration (TOKİ) is planning to complete the construction of 500,000 flats by the end of 2011, according to TOKİ Chairman Erdoğan Bayraktar.
While some claim TOKİ has reduced flat prices, Bayraktar said that, in fact, prices have been increasing for some time. Bayraktar traveled to Denizli, in the southwest, to supervise TOKİ's investments.
“Labor costs in the construction sector increased by 50 percent while inflation increased by 8 percent. We have made a small reduction for flats within the urban transformation project in Denizli since there are no land costs or social facilities in that project," Bayraktar said. "They just set the price according to the construction cost. It is impossible to decrease the prices further."
He noted that there has been no opportunity to buy a house for YTL 50,000 ($39,000) in Turkey. Both contractors and the state are losing money and those with low incomes do not have enough sources, he said. "We do our best and everyone should know this," Bayraktar said.
“We aim to reach 330,000 flats by the end of 2008; 400,000 flats by the end of 2009 and 500,000 flats by the end of 2011," said Bayraktar in response to a question about TOKİ's future targets. Bayraktar added that TOKİ had constantly differing responsibilities. On the one hand, TOKİ offers high-quality, secure and affordable flats their customers deserve and, on the other hand, they try to create a different understanding of dwelling and urbanization with their projects
While some claim TOKİ has reduced flat prices, Bayraktar said that, in fact, prices have been increasing for some time. Bayraktar traveled to Denizli, in the southwest, to supervise TOKİ's investments.
“Labor costs in the construction sector increased by 50 percent while inflation increased by 8 percent. We have made a small reduction for flats within the urban transformation project in Denizli since there are no land costs or social facilities in that project," Bayraktar said. "They just set the price according to the construction cost. It is impossible to decrease the prices further."
He noted that there has been no opportunity to buy a house for YTL 50,000 ($39,000) in Turkey. Both contractors and the state are losing money and those with low incomes do not have enough sources, he said. "We do our best and everyone should know this," Bayraktar said.
“We aim to reach 330,000 flats by the end of 2008; 400,000 flats by the end of 2009 and 500,000 flats by the end of 2011," said Bayraktar in response to a question about TOKİ's future targets. Bayraktar added that TOKİ had constantly differing responsibilities. On the one hand, TOKİ offers high-quality, secure and affordable flats their customers deserve and, on the other hand, they try to create a different understanding of dwelling and urbanization with their projects
Cost of living in Altinkum
Expats feel the pinch
FOR those of us living in Turkey, the Lira has gained in value against the pound during the winter period, but as always the pound is now gaining ground as we enter the tourist season once again. Living costs here in Turkey have increased in the past few months but nothing like the UK and the related costs of living in European countries using the Euro as currency.
Interest rates have remained largely the same on Lira accounts held in Turkish banks for some time and combined with the lower cost of living most of us consider we have done the right thing moving to make Turkey our home.
France has seen prices increase on many things and the Brits there are starting to gather at weekends in the small cobbled market square of Valbonne, just up the road from Cannes, reminiscing about the bad old days as they enjoy the mellow evening sunshine over a glass of the local grape.
But there is an air of gloom hanging over the cafés and bars that has nothing to do with the unseasonal cold and rain. For the army of Britons who have retired to this tranquil Provençal town, prices have in effect soared by 17.6 per cent over the past 12 months, as the pound's value has slid steadily against the euro. Last week, the exchange rate dipped to £1.25 to the pound for the first time.
Retail prices are close to what they were this time last year: a three-course lunch with a carafe of decent vin de pays is £21, just over half a euro more than it was a year ago; a café au lait on the terrace of the local bar still costs £2.50, a glass of Pastis £3 and a British daily paper about £4.
But, because of the weak pound, the same popular fixed-menu meal now eats £16 out of their British pensions and savings, compared with less than £14 last spring.
In April last year, £100 was worth £147, but today the same sum converts to just £125 - creating a painful cash squeeze for many of the estimated million British expatriates living in the eurozone. A Mediterranean lifestyle that took about £100 a day to maintain would cost almost £4,500 more per year.
Britons, of whom a record 250,000 emigrated last year, are reining in on the rosé and long lunches as the fallout from the global credit crunch hits their once-charmed overseas existences.
Sitting in Valbonne's Café des Arcades, David Dobson, 59, who retired to the Côte d'Azur with his wife, Karen, six years ago, said he and his circle of expat friends felt "helpless".
"There is nothing we can do about it," he said. "Everything we buy, from food and drink to petrol, clothes or even paying the cleaner, costs a lot more.”
Shopkeepers and tradesmen in Valbonne are also worried that the weakness of the pound could hit their takings, especially in summer. Not only have the sterling costs of food shopping, meals out and petrol shot up, but so have more major expenses like utility and telephone bills, local taxes and mortgage repayments.
Gwilym Rhys-Jones, the secretary of the Costa del Sol Action Group, a consumer protection organisation representing expats in southern Spain, said it was the worst situation he had ever known.
"The pound has sunk so low against the euro that we are really getting a hammering," he said. "Those people who live off earnings gained in the UK are facing a significant drop in the amount they have to spend here. It is just about the worst it has ever been."
It's not just expats who are suffering from the buoyant euro. Among those hit are also foreign exchange students in rented accommodation, struggling to eke out their British bank loans and grants to survive their year abroad.
Sterling expats are hoping that pressure will grow for lower European interest rates, which would cause the single currency to weaken.
In the meantime, there is still one advantage to a strong euro. Britons who have bought homes abroad have seen their properties in effect grow in value by almost a fifth. If they could only give up the sunshine and sell up, they could return to Britain better off than when they left.
FOR those of us living in Turkey, the Lira has gained in value against the pound during the winter period, but as always the pound is now gaining ground as we enter the tourist season once again. Living costs here in Turkey have increased in the past few months but nothing like the UK and the related costs of living in European countries using the Euro as currency.
Interest rates have remained largely the same on Lira accounts held in Turkish banks for some time and combined with the lower cost of living most of us consider we have done the right thing moving to make Turkey our home.
France has seen prices increase on many things and the Brits there are starting to gather at weekends in the small cobbled market square of Valbonne, just up the road from Cannes, reminiscing about the bad old days as they enjoy the mellow evening sunshine over a glass of the local grape.
But there is an air of gloom hanging over the cafés and bars that has nothing to do with the unseasonal cold and rain. For the army of Britons who have retired to this tranquil Provençal town, prices have in effect soared by 17.6 per cent over the past 12 months, as the pound's value has slid steadily against the euro. Last week, the exchange rate dipped to £1.25 to the pound for the first time.
Retail prices are close to what they were this time last year: a three-course lunch with a carafe of decent vin de pays is £21, just over half a euro more than it was a year ago; a café au lait on the terrace of the local bar still costs £2.50, a glass of Pastis £3 and a British daily paper about £4.
But, because of the weak pound, the same popular fixed-menu meal now eats £16 out of their British pensions and savings, compared with less than £14 last spring.
In April last year, £100 was worth £147, but today the same sum converts to just £125 - creating a painful cash squeeze for many of the estimated million British expatriates living in the eurozone. A Mediterranean lifestyle that took about £100 a day to maintain would cost almost £4,500 more per year.
Britons, of whom a record 250,000 emigrated last year, are reining in on the rosé and long lunches as the fallout from the global credit crunch hits their once-charmed overseas existences.
Sitting in Valbonne's Café des Arcades, David Dobson, 59, who retired to the Côte d'Azur with his wife, Karen, six years ago, said he and his circle of expat friends felt "helpless".
"There is nothing we can do about it," he said. "Everything we buy, from food and drink to petrol, clothes or even paying the cleaner, costs a lot more.”
Shopkeepers and tradesmen in Valbonne are also worried that the weakness of the pound could hit their takings, especially in summer. Not only have the sterling costs of food shopping, meals out and petrol shot up, but so have more major expenses like utility and telephone bills, local taxes and mortgage repayments.
Gwilym Rhys-Jones, the secretary of the Costa del Sol Action Group, a consumer protection organisation representing expats in southern Spain, said it was the worst situation he had ever known.
"The pound has sunk so low against the euro that we are really getting a hammering," he said. "Those people who live off earnings gained in the UK are facing a significant drop in the amount they have to spend here. It is just about the worst it has ever been."
It's not just expats who are suffering from the buoyant euro. Among those hit are also foreign exchange students in rented accommodation, struggling to eke out their British bank loans and grants to survive their year abroad.
Sterling expats are hoping that pressure will grow for lower European interest rates, which would cause the single currency to weaken.
In the meantime, there is still one advantage to a strong euro. Britons who have bought homes abroad have seen their properties in effect grow in value by almost a fifth. If they could only give up the sunshine and sell up, they could return to Britain better off than when they left.
25.4.08
Easy Cruise to Turkey
Accommodation-only specialist youtravel.com has teamed up with easyCruise to take 20 top-selling agents on the inaugural cruise of the line’s second ship easyCruise Life.
The ship will leave Piraeus (Athens) on April 19 for the voyage - a week-long cruise around the Greek islands.
Ports of call include Syros and Samos, Kalymnos, Kos and Paros, and a 24-hour-stay in Mykonos. easyCruise Life will visit Turkey for the first time with a full day and night in Bodrum.
Youtravel.com has an exclusive deal with easyCruise meaning that agents can earn 15% commission on every booking they make at youtravel.com.
To celebrate the launch of easyCruise Life, youtravel.com is also offering a trade incentive of £10 per booking made before February 29.
Youtravel.com sales director Paul Riches said: “Not only will the winners have a chance to be the among the first to sail on the line’s new ship, they’ll also have the chance to meet easyCruise founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou who’ll be onboard for the first two days as the ship sails from Athens to Bodrum.”
Source - travelweekly.co.uk/
The ship will leave Piraeus (Athens) on April 19 for the voyage - a week-long cruise around the Greek islands.
Ports of call include Syros and Samos, Kalymnos, Kos and Paros, and a 24-hour-stay in Mykonos. easyCruise Life will visit Turkey for the first time with a full day and night in Bodrum.
Youtravel.com has an exclusive deal with easyCruise meaning that agents can earn 15% commission on every booking they make at youtravel.com.
To celebrate the launch of easyCruise Life, youtravel.com is also offering a trade incentive of £10 per booking made before February 29.
Youtravel.com sales director Paul Riches said: “Not only will the winners have a chance to be the among the first to sail on the line’s new ship, they’ll also have the chance to meet easyCruise founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou who’ll be onboard for the first two days as the ship sails from Athens to Bodrum.”
Source - travelweekly.co.uk/
Raki
Unfortunately the traditional rakı tables of great food and sweet conversations are becoming rare and rakı, an aniseed-based spirit, seems to be losing its crown to other alcoholic drinks due to the high taxes. The producers of rakı, will lobby Brussels in order for the drink to be accepted as a national drink to avoid the overhaul to harmonize the taxation of rakı
ISTANBUL Turkish Daily News
Friends meet around a table, usually covered with a white tablecloth that has delicious mezes (traditional appetizers) on it. Rakı has always been the king of these tables. Especially if it is spring or summer and the table is out in a nice garden, sweet conversations usually last for hours. Unfortunately these tables are becoming rare and rakı, an aniseed-based spirit, seems to be losing its crown to other alcoholic drinks due to the high taxes – which are part and parcel of Turkey's joining the European customs union – that leave rakı unable to compete in the market. Rakı producers now have to fight to save rakı's throne and have started the battle in Brussels.
The producers of rakı, will lobby Brussels in order for the drink to be accepted as a national drink to avoid the overhaul to harmonize the taxation of rakı with the European Union taxation of distilled drinks,The newly founded Traditional Alcoholic Drink Producers' Association (GİSDER) released the results yesterday of a research on “The Economic and Social Role of Rakı in Turkey.” “We have applied to the European Alcoholic Drinks Producers Union for membership. In other words, we are trying to be in the enemy camp,” said Galip Yorgancıoğlu, the president of GİSDER.Yorgancıoğlu spoke at a press conference of the newly founded Traditional Alcoholic Drink Producers' Association (GİSDER), which released the results of a research on “The Economic and Social Role of Rakı in Turkey.” The Scotch whisky lobby groups pressure the Turkish government to urge an increase in taxes on rakı, according to Yongancıoğlu. A similar request came for Greek ouzo, however the taxation rates for ouzo was arranged in accordance with domestic norms, since it was recognized as the national drink of Greece. "In case of ouzo the European Union agreed to register ouzo as the national drink of Greece and exempt it from the harmonized tax on distilled alcoholic drinks like whisky. This is also what we would like to see happening with Turkish rakı,” he said.Yorgancıoğlu estimated that the price of rakı, which today costs approximately YTL 25-26 a bottle, might rise up to YTL 50 with the increased tax rate. "When rakı is placed on an equal standing with whisky, its price can go up to YTL 50. The additional taxes will be directly reflected on the consumer. Even now value added tax and private consumer tax make up 65 percent of the cost of a bottle of rakı.”
The GİSDER president said they conducted such a research to be able to provide some concrete information to the government and the lobby groups in Brussels, while they try to convince the EU and finance ministers to exclude rakı from harmonized tax.The report, which puts forward the social and economic condition of rakı in Turkey in detail, shows clearly that the meaning of rakı to Turks is exactly what ouzo means to Greeks. “We have to see rakı not only as an ordinary beverage produced in Turkey but as one of the basic elements of our economy and lifestyle. It has an important role in our identity and social interactions,” read the report.Other than its unique place in Turkey's cultural and social structure, making rakı is a business that contributes significantly to the economy of the country. In Turkey, 278,000 people are directly involved in the sector and when their families and other dependants are included the number rises to 1.3 million. This number is 1.8 percent of the country's population.
The income from the sector reaches YTL 1.2 billion, which is 1 percent of the total tax revenue of the country. The sector provides an income of over $30 million through exports. Only the income derived from duty-free sales in 2007 is almost $20 million, revealed the report prepared by IBS Research and Consultancy and presented by its manager, David Tonge.Some four million people are employed in the Turkish distilled alcoholic drinks industry directly and through the distribution chain. “I want to remind that rakı is the means of living for people in the chain from the farmers to the owners of outlets selling alcoholic beverages. The increase in rakı sales will affect all of them and change the sociological demography of our neighborhoods,” said Yorgancıoğlu.
ISTANBUL Turkish Daily News
Friends meet around a table, usually covered with a white tablecloth that has delicious mezes (traditional appetizers) on it. Rakı has always been the king of these tables. Especially if it is spring or summer and the table is out in a nice garden, sweet conversations usually last for hours. Unfortunately these tables are becoming rare and rakı, an aniseed-based spirit, seems to be losing its crown to other alcoholic drinks due to the high taxes – which are part and parcel of Turkey's joining the European customs union – that leave rakı unable to compete in the market. Rakı producers now have to fight to save rakı's throne and have started the battle in Brussels.
The producers of rakı, will lobby Brussels in order for the drink to be accepted as a national drink to avoid the overhaul to harmonize the taxation of rakı with the European Union taxation of distilled drinks,The newly founded Traditional Alcoholic Drink Producers' Association (GİSDER) released the results yesterday of a research on “The Economic and Social Role of Rakı in Turkey.” “We have applied to the European Alcoholic Drinks Producers Union for membership. In other words, we are trying to be in the enemy camp,” said Galip Yorgancıoğlu, the president of GİSDER.Yorgancıoğlu spoke at a press conference of the newly founded Traditional Alcoholic Drink Producers' Association (GİSDER), which released the results of a research on “The Economic and Social Role of Rakı in Turkey.” The Scotch whisky lobby groups pressure the Turkish government to urge an increase in taxes on rakı, according to Yongancıoğlu. A similar request came for Greek ouzo, however the taxation rates for ouzo was arranged in accordance with domestic norms, since it was recognized as the national drink of Greece. "In case of ouzo the European Union agreed to register ouzo as the national drink of Greece and exempt it from the harmonized tax on distilled alcoholic drinks like whisky. This is also what we would like to see happening with Turkish rakı,” he said.Yorgancıoğlu estimated that the price of rakı, which today costs approximately YTL 25-26 a bottle, might rise up to YTL 50 with the increased tax rate. "When rakı is placed on an equal standing with whisky, its price can go up to YTL 50. The additional taxes will be directly reflected on the consumer. Even now value added tax and private consumer tax make up 65 percent of the cost of a bottle of rakı.”
The GİSDER president said they conducted such a research to be able to provide some concrete information to the government and the lobby groups in Brussels, while they try to convince the EU and finance ministers to exclude rakı from harmonized tax.The report, which puts forward the social and economic condition of rakı in Turkey in detail, shows clearly that the meaning of rakı to Turks is exactly what ouzo means to Greeks. “We have to see rakı not only as an ordinary beverage produced in Turkey but as one of the basic elements of our economy and lifestyle. It has an important role in our identity and social interactions,” read the report.Other than its unique place in Turkey's cultural and social structure, making rakı is a business that contributes significantly to the economy of the country. In Turkey, 278,000 people are directly involved in the sector and when their families and other dependants are included the number rises to 1.3 million. This number is 1.8 percent of the country's population.
The income from the sector reaches YTL 1.2 billion, which is 1 percent of the total tax revenue of the country. The sector provides an income of over $30 million through exports. Only the income derived from duty-free sales in 2007 is almost $20 million, revealed the report prepared by IBS Research and Consultancy and presented by its manager, David Tonge.Some four million people are employed in the Turkish distilled alcoholic drinks industry directly and through the distribution chain. “I want to remind that rakı is the means of living for people in the chain from the farmers to the owners of outlets selling alcoholic beverages. The increase in rakı sales will affect all of them and change the sociological demography of our neighborhoods,” said Yorgancıoğlu.
19.4.08
Land in Turkey
Tending their flock or farms is no longer the major occupation of villagers around Ceyhan, set to be Turkey’s and the surrounding region’s energy hub with investments in refineries at this junction of oil pipelines. Villagers, already rich after selling their land to investors, nowadays spend their time at the tea house to contemplate their own investment strategies
MEHMET NAYIR
ADANA - Referans
Turkey's efforts to create a regional energy hub in the Mediterranean town of Ceyhan, at the end of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline (BTC), have already created riches beyond measure for local villagers, who have so much money that they are at a loss about how to spend it.
Investors are trying to capitalize on the fact that despite the huge amount of oil flowing into the region, and with even more planned, there is no oil refinery in the area.
Ceyhan is a bustling town in the province of Adana, the fourth-largest province in the country. Turkey has aspirations to become a regional energy hub through Ceyhan. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, the Iraq-Kirkuk-Yumurtalık pipeline, the Delta Petroleum Storage Terminal, the Sugözü Thermal Power Plant and the Toros Fertilizer Industry are of key importance to Ceyhan's economy.
With the BTC, a huge volume of refinery, storage facility, petrochemical, shipyard, port, and iron and steel investments are expected to flow into Ceyhan. And efforts by international consortiums to establish three petroleum refineries in the region are still ongoing.
Since 2000, land prices have increased 40-fold in the surrounding area, with villagers, who own around half the land and share ownership of the rest with the state, getting used to haggling with oil conglomerates over millions of dollars.
Lands that could not fetch YTL 2,000 per 1,000 square meters a decade ago are now going for YTL 80,000 per 1,000 square-meters.
One local, Celil Kırgız, 81, from the village of Sugözü, said he recently sold a stretch of land for YTL 1.6 million, which his son corrects to YTL 3.1 million.
“I still have lands to sell,” said Kırgız.
Kırgız's neighbor, Erol Seyhan, recently rejected an offer of YTL 3 million for his land, noting, “It's not a big amount of money these days.”
Seyhan believes he can get YTL 4 or 5 million for his 60,000-square-meter plot.
Celil Gırgır, the “muhtar” (village headman) of Ceyhan's Sugözü village, said a total of YTL 25 million was spent on land in recent times, including the sales in surrounding villages.
Locals both happy and a bit uneasy:
Ceyhan is on its way to become the world's energy investment center thanks to recent investments in petroleum refineries, pipelines and storage facilities in the area.
Currently, an average of two million barrels of oil flow into the area. With the completion of yet another pipeline project connecting the Black Sea province of Samsun to Ceyhan and the increase in the capacity of the BTC, the amount of oil transported to the region is expected to reach five million barrels by 2015.
Strolling through every corner of the area, energy companies are now looking for land to purchase. Estimates show Ceyhan owns a potential of 10 million square meters of land suitable for refinery establishment. Half of this land is owned by the villagers. For the rest, ownership is shared between villagers and the Treasury.
A short tour of the villages around Ceyhan provides a good chance to see the present excitement among the villagers.
Land prices and the money earned through sales are often the main topic of conversation at village tea houses.
Locals are now experts on energy issues, following all developments in newspapers, television and other mediums. The most up-to-date stories are shared by all, while they are very tight-lipped when it comes to bargains and deals they make with investors.
As a matter of fact, villagers in Ceyhan have already become genuine experts on the issue. They even have a broad knowledge of its legal aspects. Nationalization, land rights, loans, land registry and all other issues are often the main points of their chats at village tea houses.
Winning land deeds at court more difficult:
A group of locals interviewed in a village tea house in Ceyhan said, our eyes are wide open. We are following what is going on around us minute by minute so that we can have tough bargains with investors looking for land in the area.
Villagers say everyday a different company representative knocks their door. But, while earning such high amounts of profit leaves a big smile on their faces, it has also created an uneasy feeling among these villagers.
Just like the lucky guys who hit the jackpot in the national lottery, they refrain from speaking much about what they have sold, how much they have earned, and how much money is left. This is why they have not made remarkable changes in their life standards. And living frugally all their lives, they just don't have the mentality for spending a lot of money.
Kırgız said he still has a lot of money left over from the sale. He only purchased a car for YTL 45,000.
Another local of Sugözü village, Musa Başak, said, “I sold a part of my land at YTL 2,000 per 1,000 square meters to İsdemir, a company that made a couple of investments here in 1999.”
Başak now seeks to sell his 20,000-square-meter share in the area. But first he needs to win a legal war to get the full possession of those lands. “In the past, refinery investments were not on the agenda and it was easy to win the title deeds of lands at the court. But it is difficult now. The court actions I have been involved since 2004 are still continuing. They are currently at appeal,” said Başak.
‘Red land' the favorite:
The rapid increase in land prices has also forced investors to look elsewhere.
Situated near the sea and at close distance to the port, a 3,500-square-meter area owned by the Turkish State Railroads (TCDD) is seen as the most appropriate plot for a petroleum refinery investment.
Called “Kızıl (Red) Land” by the locals, this land was purchased by the Kızıl Group, owned by Mehmet Öz of Kızıltepe (Red Hill), from the State Railroads in a tender opened in 2005. But the tender was later canceled due to the group's ties with Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
Largest oil depot in the Mediterranean:
The Delta Petroleum Company, one of the biggest investors in Ceyhan, has been operating in the region for 20 years.
The latest investment it has made in Ceyhan is an oil storage depot that cost $100 million.
Delta's Chief Executive Officer Mehmet Habbab said they had established the largest oil storage in the entire Mediterranean region. “We have spent $100 million for that storage depot that will have a capacity of 650,000 tons in the second half of this year. In 2010, the capacity will be increased to 1,000,000 tons. $45 million of the expenditure is financed by the loan that the IFC Credit Corporation supplied. The rest came from our own resources. When the project is completed, Turkey will be the owner of the biggest independent oil product storage terminal in the whole Mediterranean region,” said Habbab.
With this latest investment by Delta, the fuel trade volume in Ceyhan will increase 23-fold. The company's current storage capacity is 300,000 tons. Once the trade volume increases, employment will increase, said Habbab. “We strongly believe that Ceyhan will be an energy center. About 300 million tons of oil will flow to the region in 2012. Ceyhan's future is very bright.”
For Habbab, two refineries would suffice for Ceyhan. “This area can only support two refineries. No need for any more. They will not be able to find enough oil for more than two refineries.” He also noted that the villagers' lands were not large enough for refineries, noting that the state would have to allocate more land for the projects.
Investments to be made in Ceyhan
Investments in the region were largely triggered by the construction of the BTC pipeline.
Construction work has begun in the Black Sea region for the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline project that will cost $1.5 billion.
Although the OMV-POAŞ and SOCAR-Turcas consortiums separately applied to the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) to establish a petroleum refinery in Ceyhan and reached the final stage of obtaining a license, another investor, the Çalık Group, appeared, and through a consortium with the Indian Oil Corporation, it obtained the license for establishing a refinery in the region.
The Zorlu Holding Energy Group is preparing to make its first wind energy investment in two districts of the neighboring Osmaniye province. Composed of 54 windmills, Zorlu's investment will be completed within 18 months. The cost will be 300 million euros. The total power generated will be 135 MV.
Hay Navigation rented about 500,000 square meters of land in the region to build a shipyard.
The Istanbul-based Akdeniz Naval Construction Company that signed a contract to establish a shipyard on a 80,000-square-meter area in the Adana-Yumurtalık free zone has started earth-moving works.
Large-scale energy and refinery investments have reached $20 billion in total in the Ceyhan region.
If these projects become reality:
Ceyhan may become a global energy center if all these projects come to fruition. By the time the 555-kilometer Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline project, which will carry oil from the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan and Russia, is completed, one in every 16 barrels of oil sold in the world in 2010 will be passing through Turkey. Therefore, Turkey will be a key country in the Eurasian energy corridor.
With the shift of residual oil and tanker traffic to the region, the burden on the Bosporus and the Dardanelles will be eased.
The petroleum resources of the Caspian Basin will provide a welcome alternative to Middle Eastern oil for European consumers. It will allow European Union countries to diversify their energy imports.
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=102221
MEHMET NAYIR
ADANA - Referans
Turkey's efforts to create a regional energy hub in the Mediterranean town of Ceyhan, at the end of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline (BTC), have already created riches beyond measure for local villagers, who have so much money that they are at a loss about how to spend it.
Investors are trying to capitalize on the fact that despite the huge amount of oil flowing into the region, and with even more planned, there is no oil refinery in the area.
Ceyhan is a bustling town in the province of Adana, the fourth-largest province in the country. Turkey has aspirations to become a regional energy hub through Ceyhan. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, the Iraq-Kirkuk-Yumurtalık pipeline, the Delta Petroleum Storage Terminal, the Sugözü Thermal Power Plant and the Toros Fertilizer Industry are of key importance to Ceyhan's economy.
With the BTC, a huge volume of refinery, storage facility, petrochemical, shipyard, port, and iron and steel investments are expected to flow into Ceyhan. And efforts by international consortiums to establish three petroleum refineries in the region are still ongoing.
Since 2000, land prices have increased 40-fold in the surrounding area, with villagers, who own around half the land and share ownership of the rest with the state, getting used to haggling with oil conglomerates over millions of dollars.
Lands that could not fetch YTL 2,000 per 1,000 square meters a decade ago are now going for YTL 80,000 per 1,000 square-meters.
One local, Celil Kırgız, 81, from the village of Sugözü, said he recently sold a stretch of land for YTL 1.6 million, which his son corrects to YTL 3.1 million.
“I still have lands to sell,” said Kırgız.
Kırgız's neighbor, Erol Seyhan, recently rejected an offer of YTL 3 million for his land, noting, “It's not a big amount of money these days.”
Seyhan believes he can get YTL 4 or 5 million for his 60,000-square-meter plot.
Celil Gırgır, the “muhtar” (village headman) of Ceyhan's Sugözü village, said a total of YTL 25 million was spent on land in recent times, including the sales in surrounding villages.
Locals both happy and a bit uneasy:
Ceyhan is on its way to become the world's energy investment center thanks to recent investments in petroleum refineries, pipelines and storage facilities in the area.
Currently, an average of two million barrels of oil flow into the area. With the completion of yet another pipeline project connecting the Black Sea province of Samsun to Ceyhan and the increase in the capacity of the BTC, the amount of oil transported to the region is expected to reach five million barrels by 2015.
Strolling through every corner of the area, energy companies are now looking for land to purchase. Estimates show Ceyhan owns a potential of 10 million square meters of land suitable for refinery establishment. Half of this land is owned by the villagers. For the rest, ownership is shared between villagers and the Treasury.
A short tour of the villages around Ceyhan provides a good chance to see the present excitement among the villagers.
Land prices and the money earned through sales are often the main topic of conversation at village tea houses.
Locals are now experts on energy issues, following all developments in newspapers, television and other mediums. The most up-to-date stories are shared by all, while they are very tight-lipped when it comes to bargains and deals they make with investors.
As a matter of fact, villagers in Ceyhan have already become genuine experts on the issue. They even have a broad knowledge of its legal aspects. Nationalization, land rights, loans, land registry and all other issues are often the main points of their chats at village tea houses.
Winning land deeds at court more difficult:
A group of locals interviewed in a village tea house in Ceyhan said, our eyes are wide open. We are following what is going on around us minute by minute so that we can have tough bargains with investors looking for land in the area.
Villagers say everyday a different company representative knocks their door. But, while earning such high amounts of profit leaves a big smile on their faces, it has also created an uneasy feeling among these villagers.
Just like the lucky guys who hit the jackpot in the national lottery, they refrain from speaking much about what they have sold, how much they have earned, and how much money is left. This is why they have not made remarkable changes in their life standards. And living frugally all their lives, they just don't have the mentality for spending a lot of money.
Kırgız said he still has a lot of money left over from the sale. He only purchased a car for YTL 45,000.
Another local of Sugözü village, Musa Başak, said, “I sold a part of my land at YTL 2,000 per 1,000 square meters to İsdemir, a company that made a couple of investments here in 1999.”
Başak now seeks to sell his 20,000-square-meter share in the area. But first he needs to win a legal war to get the full possession of those lands. “In the past, refinery investments were not on the agenda and it was easy to win the title deeds of lands at the court. But it is difficult now. The court actions I have been involved since 2004 are still continuing. They are currently at appeal,” said Başak.
‘Red land' the favorite:
The rapid increase in land prices has also forced investors to look elsewhere.
Situated near the sea and at close distance to the port, a 3,500-square-meter area owned by the Turkish State Railroads (TCDD) is seen as the most appropriate plot for a petroleum refinery investment.
Called “Kızıl (Red) Land” by the locals, this land was purchased by the Kızıl Group, owned by Mehmet Öz of Kızıltepe (Red Hill), from the State Railroads in a tender opened in 2005. But the tender was later canceled due to the group's ties with Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
Largest oil depot in the Mediterranean:
The Delta Petroleum Company, one of the biggest investors in Ceyhan, has been operating in the region for 20 years.
The latest investment it has made in Ceyhan is an oil storage depot that cost $100 million.
Delta's Chief Executive Officer Mehmet Habbab said they had established the largest oil storage in the entire Mediterranean region. “We have spent $100 million for that storage depot that will have a capacity of 650,000 tons in the second half of this year. In 2010, the capacity will be increased to 1,000,000 tons. $45 million of the expenditure is financed by the loan that the IFC Credit Corporation supplied. The rest came from our own resources. When the project is completed, Turkey will be the owner of the biggest independent oil product storage terminal in the whole Mediterranean region,” said Habbab.
With this latest investment by Delta, the fuel trade volume in Ceyhan will increase 23-fold. The company's current storage capacity is 300,000 tons. Once the trade volume increases, employment will increase, said Habbab. “We strongly believe that Ceyhan will be an energy center. About 300 million tons of oil will flow to the region in 2012. Ceyhan's future is very bright.”
For Habbab, two refineries would suffice for Ceyhan. “This area can only support two refineries. No need for any more. They will not be able to find enough oil for more than two refineries.” He also noted that the villagers' lands were not large enough for refineries, noting that the state would have to allocate more land for the projects.
Investments to be made in Ceyhan
Investments in the region were largely triggered by the construction of the BTC pipeline.
Construction work has begun in the Black Sea region for the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline project that will cost $1.5 billion.
Although the OMV-POAŞ and SOCAR-Turcas consortiums separately applied to the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) to establish a petroleum refinery in Ceyhan and reached the final stage of obtaining a license, another investor, the Çalık Group, appeared, and through a consortium with the Indian Oil Corporation, it obtained the license for establishing a refinery in the region.
The Zorlu Holding Energy Group is preparing to make its first wind energy investment in two districts of the neighboring Osmaniye province. Composed of 54 windmills, Zorlu's investment will be completed within 18 months. The cost will be 300 million euros. The total power generated will be 135 MV.
Hay Navigation rented about 500,000 square meters of land in the region to build a shipyard.
The Istanbul-based Akdeniz Naval Construction Company that signed a contract to establish a shipyard on a 80,000-square-meter area in the Adana-Yumurtalık free zone has started earth-moving works.
Large-scale energy and refinery investments have reached $20 billion in total in the Ceyhan region.
If these projects become reality:
Ceyhan may become a global energy center if all these projects come to fruition. By the time the 555-kilometer Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline project, which will carry oil from the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan and Russia, is completed, one in every 16 barrels of oil sold in the world in 2010 will be passing through Turkey. Therefore, Turkey will be a key country in the Eurasian energy corridor.
With the shift of residual oil and tanker traffic to the region, the burden on the Bosporus and the Dardanelles will be eased.
The petroleum resources of the Caspian Basin will provide a welcome alternative to Middle Eastern oil for European consumers. It will allow European Union countries to diversify their energy imports.
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=102221
14.4.08
Real estate in Turkey
Istanbul-Turkish Daily News
Turkey, with its stunning scenery and wealth of antiquities, is fast emerging as a new property hot spot. Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey is blessed with some of the best coastlines in Europe, especially in the country's southwestern corner where the Mediterranean and Aegean seas meet according to the web site, www. businessweek.com.
With Turkey expected to join the European Union within the next decade, property experts say those who get in early stand to see a substantial return on their investment. The combination of rapidly rising house prices and Turkish property market reforms has made the country an increasingly popular destination for international investors. Five years ago the government passed legislation making it possible for non-Turkish citizens to buy property. Since then, foreigners have spent more than $7.2 billion on an estimated 30,000 homes, according to the Turkish government. Over the last year alone, property sales to foreigners soared by 59% to $2.9 billion.
Moreover, recent changes in legislation have also created the country's first ever mortgage market, says the web site. As a result, it is now possible to get a mortgage at interest rates that are roughly 50% less than the traditional home loans buyers used in the past. "Now that the government has made it easier for foreigners to buy, demand is soaring," says Ahmet Rauf Saatci, chief executive of real estate agency Century 21 in Istanbul.
Bright Spots
The sunny Mediterranean climate is only a small part of Turkey's attraction. For starters, property prices are on average 30% to 50% less than those found in more well-trodden hotspots such as the Spanish, French, and Italian coasts. Property experts compare the country to the Spanish property market in the 1970s. London-based international real estate agency Knight Frank predicts property prices will increase by 12.5% in 2007, the web site says.
Not only is it cheaper to buy, it is also much cheaper to live. Economists reckon that the cost of living is between 40% and 60% less than in continental Europe. And according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Turkey is the fourth least expensive place to live in a recent survey of 30 member countries.
The vast majority of international buyers are focusing mainly on coastal resort towns. Towns such as Bodrum, Marmaris, and Fethiye, all long-popular with vacationing Turks and Europeans alike, have experienced a development boom. Over the last five years, numerous modern apartment complexes and gated private communities have sprung up to cater to demand.
Good Returns
The web site further says that the Turkish property developer Tuna Homes and Buildings almost exclusively markets its portfolio of modern villas and apartments to Europeans. Since ownership laws for foreigners have been liberalized, interest in investment properties in the Bodrum Peninsula has accelerated, according to Tuna sales manager Necati Azazi. Last year, 90% of Tuna's 500-apartment development in Bodrum, called Peninsula, was sold to Europeans. Over the last year, prices in coastal areas have appreciated between 30% and 50%. New, modern, gated developments with pools and other amenities such as tennis courts are in high demand.
9.4.08
Overseas interest
Property investors from all over the world are keen to purchase a residence in Turkey, according to a newspaper report.
Today''s Zaman stated that the country is proving to be popular with investors in many different countries.
Europe was highlighted as the main centre of foreign interest, in particular Germany and the UK.
Investors from both nations were said to be increasingly snapping up residences in areas such as Antalya and Mugla.
The former destination was named as the most popular part of the country in terms of how many properties are owned by foreign nationals.
According to the newspaper''s figures, more than 26,000 people from overseas own real estate in Antalya, while 12,865 have invested in Mugla.
Istanbul, Aydin, Bursa and Izmir were identified as further hotspots for foreign property buyers.
This comes after Sarah Brown of NuBricks.com said that government efforts to attract more visitors to the country could trigger a property boom.
Today''s Zaman stated that the country is proving to be popular with investors in many different countries.
Europe was highlighted as the main centre of foreign interest, in particular Germany and the UK.
Investors from both nations were said to be increasingly snapping up residences in areas such as Antalya and Mugla.
The former destination was named as the most popular part of the country in terms of how many properties are owned by foreign nationals.
According to the newspaper''s figures, more than 26,000 people from overseas own real estate in Antalya, while 12,865 have invested in Mugla.
Istanbul, Aydin, Bursa and Izmir were identified as further hotspots for foreign property buyers.
This comes after Sarah Brown of NuBricks.com said that government efforts to attract more visitors to the country could trigger a property boom.
Spanish homes bulldozed
The British press is having a field day with the story of a retired couple in Spain who watched their house bulldozed by the government last week.
Helen and Leonard Prior reportedly spent £570,000 to buy and fix up a villa in Vera, which they nicknamed “Tranquilidad.” A few days ago “Tranquilidad” was torn down, after the government declared the house was built without proper permits. As chronicled by the Telegraph and Daily Mail, Leonard Prior collapsed in anguish as his dream home was destroyed.
Some members of the Spain property industry complain that home buyer horror stories are over hyped by the media, but this is a familiar issue: A house or development is declared illegal—often built as the result of corruption, deceit and/or incompetence—resulting in heartache and pain for the poor buyer. Government officials say they are following the legal process and owners will be compensated, a promise that is widely mocked by homeowner groups like Abusos Urbanistico No, which are fighting government policies.
The Priors are the first expats to lose their house, but thousands of homeowners are facing a similar fate, according to the Telegraph. The Evening Standard reports four more expat-owned homes in the Vera area are also facing the bulldozer.
Helen and Leonard Prior reportedly spent £570,000 to buy and fix up a villa in Vera, which they nicknamed “Tranquilidad.” A few days ago “Tranquilidad” was torn down, after the government declared the house was built without proper permits. As chronicled by the Telegraph and Daily Mail, Leonard Prior collapsed in anguish as his dream home was destroyed.
Some members of the Spain property industry complain that home buyer horror stories are over hyped by the media, but this is a familiar issue: A house or development is declared illegal—often built as the result of corruption, deceit and/or incompetence—resulting in heartache and pain for the poor buyer. Government officials say they are following the legal process and owners will be compensated, a promise that is widely mocked by homeowner groups like Abusos Urbanistico No, which are fighting government policies.
The Priors are the first expats to lose their house, but thousands of homeowners are facing a similar fate, according to the Telegraph. The Evening Standard reports four more expat-owned homes in the Vera area are also facing the bulldozer.
housing in Turkey
Turkey is expected to face a substantial housing deficit in coming years as a result of several factors, including a population increase, migration, the need for renovations and urban transformation projects. Turkey needs an average housing supply of 300,000 to 350,000 houses annually, although the rate of home ownership is 65 percent, according to data obtained from the Istanbul Trade Chamber. Fifty-five percent of the total housing supply in Turkey consists of houses without housing permits or certificates, while 60 percent are houses over 20 years old, and 40 percent require some kind of maintenance work. The renovation of houses, together with the exchange of current homes for higher-quality homes, are also contributing to the country's potential housing deficit. The data reveals that Turkey will face a housing deficit of up to 5,542,000 houses in the coming eight-year period through 2015. The population increase is considered to be the factor leading to a deficit of 2,880,000 houses. Migration will create a deficit of 760,000 houses and the remaining deficit of 652,000 houses will come from the need for renovations. It is also predicted that 1,250,000 more houses will be needed as a result of urban transformation projects.
Cruise to Altinkum
The first cruise ship to visit Didim will arrive on May 21st.
The cruise ship will anchor close to Altinkum Beach but will not be able to moor at the port due to it’s shallow depth. Tourists will be taken ashore by smaller boats and will visit Altinkum Beach, the Apollon Temple, Miletos and Ephesus.
The Marmaris based Yesil Marmaris Cruise Company will also operate the Kos-Didim ferries. The journey will take approximaetly 1 hour and 15 minutes by catamaran. Yesil Marmaris has organised 2 different trips for holiday makers from Kos. The first one is Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary while the second one is a stay on Altinkum Beach, the visit to the Temple of Apollo and a trip to Miletos. The journey will leave at 8:30 from Kos departing from Didim Port at 17:20.
The tour operator also announced that the fast catamaran’s name is Aegean Jet. 30 metres long, with a 220 passenger capacity and made in Sweden. The catamaran can travel at a speed of 27 knots and all passengers will be insured by the British Marine Protection & Indemnity Club to a limit of $100 million.
Mayor of Didim Mumin Kamaci said “ The commencement of cruise tourism to Didim is also as important as Ferries from Kos. Didim will benefit highly from being an international port.”
The cruise ship will anchor close to Altinkum Beach but will not be able to moor at the port due to it’s shallow depth. Tourists will be taken ashore by smaller boats and will visit Altinkum Beach, the Apollon Temple, Miletos and Ephesus.
The Marmaris based Yesil Marmaris Cruise Company will also operate the Kos-Didim ferries. The journey will take approximaetly 1 hour and 15 minutes by catamaran. Yesil Marmaris has organised 2 different trips for holiday makers from Kos. The first one is Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary while the second one is a stay on Altinkum Beach, the visit to the Temple of Apollo and a trip to Miletos. The journey will leave at 8:30 from Kos departing from Didim Port at 17:20.
The tour operator also announced that the fast catamaran’s name is Aegean Jet. 30 metres long, with a 220 passenger capacity and made in Sweden. The catamaran can travel at a speed of 27 knots and all passengers will be insured by the British Marine Protection & Indemnity Club to a limit of $100 million.
Mayor of Didim Mumin Kamaci said “ The commencement of cruise tourism to Didim is also as important as Ferries from Kos. Didim will benefit highly from being an international port.”
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