Turkish Property Guide

Turkey tops World Travel Market ExCel London

The Turkish Office of Culture & Tourism was an exceptional contributor to this year’s World Travel Market [WTM] held at ExCel in London during November with this year’s Turkish stand growing 30% in size since last year.

At the press conference Mr. Ozgur Ozaslan, Turkey’s Deputy Undersecretary Responsible for Tourism, announced that Turkey had not experienced any reduction in its tourist arrivals in the past two years unlike many other countries.

Indeed, by welcoming over 27 million visitors to its shores in 2009, Turkey achieved an increase of 2.8% in visitor numbers positioning it as the only country to benefit from a growth in inbound tourist numbers in 2009.

Growth looks set to be even more spectacular during 2010 according to the early figures which reveal over 23 million visitors arriving in Turkey in the first nine months of the year, extrapolated, a year on year increase in tourist arrivals of 6%.

Turkey’s success has also been reflected in winning various tourism awards to include being voted “Favourite Destination” in the 2010 Reader’s Travel Awards by the readers of the world famous Condé Nast Traveller UK magazine & numerous World Travel – European Awards it has received this year.

Istanbul, the European Capital of Culture for 2010, has also staged countless arts & cultural festivals, activities & concerts & has acted as host to a succession of world sports events such as the FIBA world basketball championships & Formula 1 events.

In a continuation of Turkey’s emerging role in the sports world the Universiad Winter Games will be held in Erzurum, Turkey’s centre of winter sports, between 27 January – 6 February 2011, & the 11^th European Youth Olympic Festival [EYOF] the only all-European multi-sport event will be held in Trabzon between 23 – 30 July 2011.

In London to receive the Chatham House Statesman of the Year Award 2010 from the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II, Turkish President Mr. Abdullah Gul will be opening the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre in November 2010, [Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centres have opened in Bosnia Herzegovina, Albania, Egypt, Macedonia & Kazakhstan. Plans are underway for new centres in other countries including Germany, France, Kosovo, Syria & Russia], in addition to the Mimar Sinan exhibition held at the Royal Institute of British Architects [RIBA] dedicated to the chief Ottoman royal architect during the 16th century. His most famous work being the Suleiman Mosque in Istanbul.

Mimar Sinan [1490 – 1578] was the chief Ottoman architect & civil engineer to sultans Suleiman I, Selim II & Murad III. He was responsible for the construction of more than three hundred major structures amongst other more modest projects.

President Gul stated that “Mimar Sinan is a part of Ottoman & Turkish culture & a part of the common heritage we share with countries from Romania to Saudi Arabia, from Greece to Israel.”

The WTM Turkey press conference was attended by Mr. Ozgur Ozaslan, Deputy Undersecretary Responsible for Tourism; Mr. Cumhur Guven Tasbasi, General Director for Promotion; Mr. Levent Demirel, Deputy General Director – all from the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism & Mr. Irfan Onal, Director, Turkish Culture & Tourism Office UK.

Additionally, Turkish Members of Parliament, Provincial Governors & representatives of the tourism industry also attended WTM this year.

There were also special head-to-head sessions with senior representatives from the Mugla & Antalya regions & a series of high-level meetings throughout the four days.

Turkey voted top country

Turkey has been chosen by Condé Nast Traveller readers as their favourite country in the destination category at the Condé Nast Traveller 12th Annual Readers’ Travel Awards for the first time.

 

Turkey‘s popularity also ensures a spot in prestigious The World’s Top 100 list too where it was voted number 2 overall.

 

Istanbul, European Capital of Culture 2010 also scored highly; Istanbul was voted in the top 10 in the Overseas Cities category (5th place), with top marks for people / hospitality.

 

The city is also home to some of the readers’ favourite hotels as the Ciragan Palace Kempinski was voted in 6th place and The Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, 13th place in the Category of Overseas Leisure Hotels.  The Ritz Carlton Istanbul also secured 8th spot in the Overseas Business Hotels category.

 

Director of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office UK Irfan Onal expressed his delight at winning the award: “We are thrilled that Turkey has won this prestigious award, which is even more meaningful given that it is chosen by the readers themselves.  This is the highlight in what has been a very successful year as the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office UK.

Indeed, visitor numbers from the UK continue their spectacular rise, with year-on-year figures up 15.5% for the first 7 months of this year.”

 

Turkish Ambassador H.E Mr. Unal Cevikoz received the country award. Also attending the award was the Ambassador’s wife Mrs. Emel Cevikoz, Director of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office, Mr. Irfan Onal and Deputy Director, Dr. Aysegul Gurgezoglu.

 

 

Source: www.ftnnews.com

Turkey An Affordable Alternative For Expats

Over two thirds (75 percent) of expatriate Britons living in EU countries are considering returning to the UK due to the effects of the economic crisis according to a recent survey.

Fears over job security falling European property prices and the strength of the Euro are forcing many to reconsider their options according to a poll commissioned by Moneycorp the UK foreign exchange specialist.

250 in-depth telephone interviews were conducted last month and the findings indicated that 70 percent of those interviewed were now considering packing up and going home.

Job security was the most common concern with 35 percent worried about losing their job.

Falling European property prices was the second major concern closely followed by the strength of the Euro that for many paid in sterling has meant a dramatic cut in income or pensions.

Britons living in Spain where the recession is biting hardest for expatriates are the most worried about losing their jobs with 41 percent afraid they will be affected by the Spanish unemployment rate that currently stands at 18 percent.

More than a quarter (28 percent) of British expatriate living in Spain and more than one third (33 percent) of those living in Germany claim a sterling pension and rely on it as their main income.

An average of 70 percent have repatriation in mind says the survey while more than a third in some EU counties say they are definitely going back to the UK – including 38 percent of British expats in Germany, 37 percent in Spain, 34 percent in Italy and 33 percent in France.

David Kerns, Head of Private Clients at Moneycorp, said: “Our research highlights the real impact of the downturn for Britons living abroad”.

However, Turkey remains outside the EU affording the British in particular especially attractive exchange rates when compared to their European counterparts. This makes Turkey an affordable alternative to the more established retirement destinations such as Spain. Turkey already has a burgeoning British expat community.

Property in Turkey whether you are looking for Turkish property for sale or simply rentals in Turkey currently represents fantastic value for money. Furthermore, Turkey continues to enjoy sustainable growth in its property market with both domestic and international demand underpinning the market. Returns for rentals in Turkey remain strong.

Simultaneously, the strength of Turkey’s underlying economy and continued growth in tourism bolsters the case for considering Turkey as a real alternative retirement destination.

Turkey’s accession to full membership of the EU continues apace, increasing confidence amongst many Europeans in Turkey as a stable retirement destination.

For more information visit: www.moneycorp.com

Additional charges

Buying expenses in Turkey is around five per cent of the value of the property,, also includes a three per cent buyer’s and seller’s tax, which the buyer usually pays. There is also a small connection fee for electricity and water and you will need to obtain military permit, which is compulsory to buy a property.

Annual charges include;

council tax — £20 per year.

Compulsory building insurance– £150 per year.

Do your due diligence and hire an English-speaking, independent lawyer before exchanging contracts