The UK's largest airline, Easy jet is increasing the number of cheap flights it offers from London Gatwick to Turkey's most popular regions.

According to Spot Blue, Easyjet will be running 4 to Bodrum and 7 to Dalaman. This is part of a major expansion of Easyjet's Gatwick flights, which will involve the addition of a new plane at the airport bringing the total to 39. The new flights will be extremely beneficial to the property markets of Bodrum and Dalaman, and are testament to Turkey's massively rising popularity with British holidaymakers.

Julian Walker of spot blue stated that new flights are always advantageous to Turkish property market as Turkey's tourism was raising nearly 20-25% for the last few years, and 25% expected this year, because it is outside the Euro zone and its improving infrastructure. As Turkey's tourism capacity increases more flights will be needed to continue its growth.

According to the airlines Web site booking pages, it has never been cheaper to fly over for a few days and have a look around for the people contemplating buying property in Turkey. The prices become higher month by month and the new one-way fares to Bodrum-Milas airport are ranging from the lowest fare in April of 48.99 pounds for flights from Gatwick to Bodrum, up to 58.99 pounds. For the Bodrum to Gatwick journey the lowest fare for April was quoted at 23.99 pounds to 79 pounds in August.

With British holiday makers having access to short affordable flights, it makes holiday rentals in Bodrum and Dalaman even more appealing. More tourists mean more rental opportunities increasing rental yields and making property in Bodrum and Dalaman an even more attractive proposition to investors.

EasyJet spokesman Andrew McConnell comments: "We have been analyzing these new routes for a while and we see this is as a great opportunity. These new routes fit into our business model by continuing to connect major European cities."

Labels: Holiday-property, Travel

The hottest ticket this summer is a holiday in Turkey and it's no surprise why thousands of Brits are expected to visit this non-euro destination in 2009, according to a travel operator.

Thomas Cook, Europe's second largest travel operator has stated that Turkey is the ideal family holiday location and the key appeals of a Turkish holiday this year is affordability. The country is not part of the euro zone and Turkish accommodation remains affordable as the cost of living is low. There are several discounted package holidays now available particularly for those willing to book at the last minute.

Recent figures from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism revealed that Tourist arrivals have risen steadily over the past few years. Turkey's tourist industry is breaking records year-on-year leaping from 9.75 million visitors in 1998 to 30.9 million a decade later in 2008. Undersecretary of the Tourism Ministry has stated that a further 20% increase in the number of British tourists is anticipated in 2009.

Investment in buy-to-let purchases has received a welcome boost from Turkey’s tourist statistics. The Turkish market is also showing promising signs for the resale market. Some 73,000 foreign nationals (mainly Britons, Germans and Greeks) own properties in the country predominantly along the Mediterranean and Aegean coastlines and interest in owning bricks and mortar be it for retirement, a holiday home or buy to let investment continues to be strong.

James González, Market Analyst at Obelisk comments "Although Turkey's still very much an emerging market; the signs are that it's set to become more established during 2009 and Turkey certainly offers some excellent investment opportunities".

Labels: Investment-property, Travel

Among the winter sun destinations, Easyjet began operating a thrice-weekly service between London Gatwick and Dalaman, a town located on the south-west coast of Turkey. The airlines estimate that more than 60,000 passengers will visit Dalaman this year, and so popular is the route expected to be that it has already been announced that the flight frequency between these two destinations will increase to five times a week as of 1st May.

Easyjet said in a statement that GB Airways will continue to operate all routes under the British Airways brand until 29 March and As many as 21 new destinations are available from low-cost airline Easyjet thanks to the company's takeover of GB Airways. The current credit crisis has not stopped Brits booking their annual summer holidays for 2009 however due to the British pound dropping in value against the Euro; they are looking for Non-Euro alternatives like Turkey, where they get more value for their money.

Furthermore, according to the World Tourism Organization, Turkey has one of the best performing, not to mention lucrative, tourism industries in the world, with over 27 million tourists from all around the world expected to visit the country this year.

Property experts believe that this new flight route will serve to further increase the numbers of property buyers and tourists heading to Turkey. Dominic Whiting, editor of the Buying in Turkey guide has said that the long-anticipated arrival of no-thrills flights to the Turkish coast is big news. He commented "Improving access from the UK should have a very positive effect on tourism and the property market in Dalaman and other nearby resorts in Turkey - with a recent Europe-wide study by Savills finding an average price premium of 37% for property in an area served by a budget airline."

Dalaman's beautiful countryside, cotton fields, fragrant orange groves, and some fascinating ancient sites make it a popular tourist destination. As the area develops with holiday villages in Sarıgerme and the new golf courses in the near vicinity Dalaman is set to become the destination of choice for many tourists with plans to turn this area into a golfers paradise. Dalaman town is growing quickly as a result of the investment in the area -the real estate market has increased the number of properties available for sale/rent.

In related news, Edinburgh airport has already had extra flights to Turkey scheduled by certain travel companies and other airports are expected to announce the same.

Labels: Dalaman, Property-buyers, Travel

Turkey is a more financially viable option than Greece for investors seeking to buy property and also for the tourists, it has been reported.

Paul Collins, property editor of BuyAssociation, has stated that Turkey is "significantly" cheaper than Cyprus Property or Greece or elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Mass tourism is a promiscuous business and the summer destinations such as Turkey are looking cheaper than the Greek islands. Most tourists compare prices as readily as they swap holiday snaps when they come home and as Turkey remains outside the single currency offers much better value against the pound for holidaymakers.

Figures reveal that demand for travel to Turkey has increased considerably in 2008 and travel experts have said they expect this pattern to continue in 2009.

The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) spokesman commented: "the position of the currencies unlikely to get much better in the coming months, holidaymakers are expected to look further afield to North Africa and Turkey, which offer much better value for money and where you can still find dinner for two for £20."

According to Shelter Offshore.com, a £100,000 property purchase in Greece can see costs of around £10,000 added to the bill in the guise of land registry, local tax, transfer tax and other notary fees. This sum can rise to £17,500 when all other expenditure is considered. The website has cited research conducted by leading consumer group Which and has reported that the hidden costs can make migration to Greece costlier for UK consumers. However, Costs in Turkey are comparatively low at around £7,000 it is suggested, potentially representing better value for money.

In related news, Turkey's tourist industry is enjoying a boom, with the number of visitors to the nation has risen by 23 per cent this year, reports Today's Zaman.

Labels: British, Property-prices, Travel

Travel Turkey Tourism Fair & Conference, one of the most important events in the Turkish tourism industry calendar was held on November 27th in Izmir is set to boost the country's travel industry for the coming year.

The exhibition and conference, which grows every year in terms of the number of participants and visitors, took place at the International Izmir Fair gives the purchasers, who come from diverse countries throughout the world being mainly from Eurasia and the Turkish Tourism Industry a chance to see Turkey’s assets. Travel Turkey provides the platform for serious professional networking that results in signed contracts with global dealmakers.

The promotion of the exhibition is done by Hannover-Messe International Istanbul and by its representatives in 70 countries. The fair featured a number of special events and promotions including free holidays and flight giveaways.

In related news, Official figures show that an estimated 2.46 million people visited Turkey in October, representing a 14.38 per cent rise compared to the same period in 2007.

Labels: Tourism, Travel

Turkey is becoming a very popular area for holiday home seekers and overseas property investments, Statistics from search engine giant Google have revealed.

Worldbulletin.net has reported that Turkey's official tourism portal is currently ranked as one of Google's most-visited websites, receiving a rating of 8 out of 10 in terms of importance and international popularity. A Turkish Tourism official explained that the website was designed to reach international markets and appeals to the various tastes and expectations of people from across the world. The website can be viewed in four languages, with English, French and German available in addition to Turkish.

The Turkish Daily News has reported that Ismet Yilmaz, undersecretary from the culture and tourism ministry, said the tourism industry is a vital part of the country's future. However, he added that further growth in the Turkish holiday industry could be achieved if efforts are made to broaden its appeal. Property author Dominic Whiting said the government is investing funds in tourism industry in order to make them more desirable and enhancing their appeal to prospective holidaymakers. This is also making it more attractive to foreign property buyers, as house prices are being pushed upwards.

In related news, Turkey attracted more than 23 million international tourists last year, reports TurkishPress.com, which makes it the ninth-most visited country in the world in 2007.

Labels: Holiday-property, Travel

Turkey's appealing religious attractions makes it a very popular hotspot for faith tourists, claimed one expert.

Judith Fein of the Dallas Morning News recently highlighted the divine attributes of Istanbul's Aya Sofya church (Church of the Holy Wisdom), which allegedly houses a splinter from Noah's Ark. The Aya Sofia was a cathedral until the Turkish conquest of Constaninople in 1453 when it was turned into a mosque. In 1935, Hagia Sophia is declared as a museum. Today, it is blend of both faiths.

According to the Irish Independent, Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a place which offers great Christmas festivities and more choice of getaways.

Ms Fein has recalled the treasured experiences she had in Harran; this village is mentioned in the Holy Books and it is one of the focal points of faith tourism in Turkey. The Prophet Abraham stayed in Harran when he was migrating from Sanliurfa towards the south. Furthermore, the foundations of the three religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam are laid in Harran.

St Paul Trail is a 500 kilometer way-marked footpath from Perge, to Yalvac, NE of Lake Egirdir. The hikers gets chance to enjoy the spectacular landscape, deep canyons, waterfalls, cedar forests and limestone peaks soaring to almost 3,000m along the trail.

Turkey has been described as 'holy land' like Israel and is a country shaped by the history of Islam, Judaism and Christianity

This comes after the Association of British Travel Agents reported the amount of bookings for holidays in Turkey has risen by 20 per cent in the last year. This should be good news for overseas property owners who depend on tourism to generate returns, such as owners of temporary lodgings.

Labels: Holiday-property, Tourism, Travel

Turkey is found to be an appealing location among winter sun-seekers in Scotland, it has been reported.

Jackie Sindlay, manager of King World Travel's Paisley branch, told the Paisley Daily Express that Turkey is attracting a large amount of interest from Scots. Speaking to the local daily, she said that many wanted to get away to a sunnier location in order to escape from the cold weather. Ms Sindlay further said that the bad weather and last year's "terrible" summer was a major reason for people choosing to head abroad at this time of year.

Recently M&S Money highlighted the growing popularity of Turkey among people from the UK. Owners of temporary lodgings in Turkey could be set to benefit from an influx of Scottish holidaymakers. According to the Telegraph, areas such as Olu Deniz and Fethiye are particularly good destinations for tourists to visit, as they offer both good countryside and an enjoyable holiday experience without overstretching people financially. Artemis Travel has recently highlighted Turkey as an ideal destination for winter holidaymakers.

This comes after the news that Direct flights between Aberdeen and Dalaman are set to be introduced by Flyglobespan in May 2009. This should be a positive development for the Turkish tourism industry, as it suggests country’s rental market may benefit from extra rental demand from Scottish tourists in future.

Labels: Tourism, Travel

Recent connectivity improvements have made Dalaman region of Turkey a far more accessible destination, according to reports.

Direct flights to Dalaman from Aberdeen will start from May 2009, according to budget airline Flyglobespan. The budget airlines which will operate the service once a week, is expecting the new service to be a great success. The consumers in the vicinity of the Scottish city will find Dalaman far easier to reach, which could enhance its appeal among prospective holidaymakers and business travelers.

This suggests that Dalaman is likely to attract a greater number of Scottish visitors next year, a development which could boost demand for rental accommodations in the region.

Visitors from British Isles fly to Dalaman as it serves as a gateway to other seaside resorts such as Dalyan, Oludeniz, Marmaris, Fethiye, Koycegiz and Hisaronu. Accordingly the Dalaman region is a more attractive option for buy-to-let investors to consider.

Gail Holden, commercial development manager of Midland airways commented that the Turkish market has become highly "sophisticated" now and all the carriers should be in peak form in order to compete. The comments are encouraging for property investors as the competition reflects the strong appeal of the country.

This comes after the news that the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has revealed that the number of bookings for trips to the country has increased by 20 per cent this year.

Labels: Travel

A growing number of holidaymakers in the UK are choosing to book trips to Turkey, according to The Co-operative Travel.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) stated that while the mainstream holiday destinations such as Spain remain very popular, a growing number of people are looking for non-Eurozone countries as they offer favourable exchange rates. Turkey is benefiting from this trend, as bookings have gone up by 20 per cent this summer.

According to the Co-operative Travel report, Dalaman is the number one foreign holiday destination for Brits this summer along with Bodrum. In fact, the Turkish destinations came ahead of the Algarve and Cyprus in a list of this year's hotspots for British tourists. Tourism officials in Turkey have revealed that the sector has experienced growth and they expect to end this year with 27 million tourists. The visitor numbers in popular tourist spots like Antalya, Mugla, Izmir and Istanbul are nearly 20 per cent up on the same time last year.

Trevor Davis of The Co-operative Travel has said that this year the high euro and a shortage of availability as major tour operators are offering fewer services to Spanish destinations this summer which means that the normal late deals aren't available.

Meanwhile, Hurriyet has cited the data from the Turkish tourism ministry which has revealed that the country attracted 7.3 million visitors between January and May 2008.

Labels: Holiday-property, Travel

First time visitors and First-time buyers are starting to turn towards Turkey, their confidence boosted by wide variety of attractions and affordable property prices, research shows.

National Savings and Investment found that 25 per cent of the British people would consider buying abroad where property is cheaper in order to get their foot on the property ladder back in the UK. James Caldwell, director at Fairinvestment.co.uk has stated that investors find cheaper property prices and a lower cost of living in sunnier climets which could make buying their first home more affordable while they continue a high quality of life.

Ahmet Barut, head of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation, believes that Turkey will attract a substantial number of first time tourists this summer. He also added that the weakness of the pound against the euro has made holidaying within the eurozone more expensive. Turkey has attracted more than 23 million holidaymakers last year and upto ten per cent rise is expected in the number of tourists visiting Turkey this year.

TurkishPress.com has reported that Turkey is now being widely regarded as a good-value alternative to traditional European markets. The better quality of life, lower cost of living and the relative affordability of residential property are proving a draw to first-time buyers.

The house prices on the Turkish Riviera are on the rise and would eventually match those in comparable European tourist hotspots such as Greece, Spain and Italy. Property investors who choose to buy a holiday home on the Turkish Riviera could also be making a profitable long-term investment as properties in the coastal resorts starts from £35,000 with realistic capital growth along with a rental yield opportunity.

Labels: Travel, Turkish-property

Rental investors in Turkey could be set to witness a surge in occupancy rates in the next few months, according to experts.

Vural Oger of Oger Tours on an interview to Hurriyet has stated that the number of European holidaymakers is expected to increase as much as ten per cent this year and there is likely to be a significant increase in the number of German visitors possibly of about six per cent. As a result, demand for rental accommodation will increase and generate higher returns for property owners.

Rumi Dogay of the Pamucak Union of Tourism Investors Speaking to TurkishPress.com said that many holidaymakers in the continent opt to visit Turkey this year as many traditional European destinations are on the brink of an economic recession. As a result, Turkey is benefiting appreciably and is expected to attract a record number of holidaymakers in 2008.

TurkishPress.com reported that Turkey attracted more than 23 million foreign leisure travelers last year and it is likely to increase this year. The tourist sector has generated about £1.4 billion in the first 3 months of 2008. This has made Turkey more attractive to foreign property buyers and house prices are spiraling upwards.

Turkey was singled out by the Guardian as a good destination for British holidaymakers to consider because the pound has slumped to a record low against the euro.

Labels: Investment-property, Rentals, Travel

Labels: Tourism, Travel

Labels: Rentals, Tourism, Travel

Humberside Airport Travel figures reveal that many people from Humberside last-minute holiday bookings in order to escape from last year's wet summer. Their reports confirm that nearly 92 per cent of its bookings were made at the last minute.

The travel agency further said that Turkey was the most popular destination for followed by Cyprus. Turkish Airlines reported that a total of eight million people flew with the carrier till September of 2007 which is 19.4 per cent higher than the figures recorded 12 months earlier.

Rob Goldsmith, managing director of Humberside Airport, said that the last year summer saw increase in the number of visitors and he expected that the trend will continue. Property experts pointed out a link between the wet summer and an increased number of people purchasing property abroad. Currency specialist HiFX explained the surge of interest in buying abroad is mainly due to people wanting to live in a better climate.

Turkey is increasingly becoming popular because it offers overseas property investors the ideal place to buy a home in the sun as it has good weather all round the year. Michael Harrop, MD of New Turkish Properties has commented that glorious weather is pulling in crowds of takers when it comes to property in Turkey.

Labels: British, Property-buyers, Travel

Turkey is becoming the most popular destinations for eastern Europeans due to the low entry costs they provide for investors in terms of getting on to the property ladder.

TurkishPress.com cited Turkish Statistical Institute statistics showing that in last 2 months turkey has attracted over 280,000 people from Eastern Europe which is more than 2 percent when comparing the same period last year.

The aesthetic beauty of the costal areas blended with a rich history and a hospitable atmosphere makes Turkey appeal to Europeans and particularly eastern Europeans recently. The official figures states that nearly 140,000 Bulgarian nationals chose to take a holiday in turkey during winter months and they were only fractionally behind German tourists to visit Turkey in 2008

The Turkish government initial target is to boost tourism from 20 million to 25 million in 2008 and also aims to double the annual number of foreign tourists from 23 million to 50 million in the next 15 years.

The government's initiatives to boost tourism are anticipated to increase interest from foreign property buyers. The BuyAssociation states that Turkey's growing holidaymaking appeal is making it very attractive to but -to-let investors.

Labels: Latest-news, Travel

Turkey as a place that offers an enjoyable holiday experience without overstretching people financially is further highlighted by British Midland Airways (BMI) as Passenger numbers on flights to Turkey are likely to go up this year, the carrier has announced.

The main challenge in the Turkish market is competition against other airlines, said Gail Holden, commercial development manager of BMI. She has said in a press conference that the Turkish market is a highly sophisticated one and already many carriers operate to and from Turkey like BMI. This is why they need to make sure that they are on top form in order to compete and to give better service in Turkey and they are expanding rapidly. BMI launched direct flights between Ankara and London without a stop over in Istanbul from October 2007.

Her comments are really encouraging for travelers and buyers as the competition between the airlines reflects the strong appeal of the country.

Research by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) showed that visitor numbers increased by 18 per cent last year which was higher than the increase recorded in most of the European countries during the same period. This increase should boost Turkish property market.

Labels: Travel