Turkish property & economy news
27 August 2015
Tourism news: Restoration turns castle into Spongebob This week in tourism news: a restoration of a 2000-year-old Istanbul castle has social media abuzz with comparisons to children’s cartoon character Spongebob Squarepants; a sea tunnel currently under construction in Istanbul should be completed ahead of schedule by the end of next year; an index report shows Turkey still has plenty of room for improvement in the tourist stakes; the introduction of tax-free zones mean tourists can visit designated resort areas without passports, boosting spending; and cruise ship traffic is on the rise, especially in Istanbul and Izmir.22 August 2015
Turkey’s snap election – what you need to know President Erdogan has called a snap election for November 1 after coalition talks finally broke down today. Erdogan has been accused of obstructing talks in order to move to the repeat election. The president is hoping to swing some of the left-voting populace back towards his ruling AKP party. But will the scheme work? Or will it backfire completely? We examine the possible outcomes and economic effects.20 August 2015
Turkey's role in battling ISIS Turkey’s partnership with the US in the war against ISIS could represent a turning point in the battle against the terrorist organisation. We look at the reasons why Turkey has been reticent in its anti-ISIS involvement until now, and what the implications of a US deal mean for the country. With all eyes turned towards ISIS it’s inevitable that potential visitors are concerned about possible danger within Turkey - but just how realistic are the dangers to the average tourist visiting Istanbul or the Mediterranean?20 August 2015
Turkey news: Elections, Marriages, and solar buses This week in Turkey: coalition talks break down, which likely means a repeat election is on the cards for November. President Erdogan denies any involvement in the failed talks. A marriage proposal on a major Istanbul road caused traffic hold ups and angry commuters. Grey plastic balls might help save millions of gallons of water each year in Turkey, and a solar-powered bus hits the streets of Istanbul in a bid to provide cleaner transport options in Turkey’s biggest city.21 July 2015
Heatwave to push south coast past 40 degrees This week’s tourism news: Istanbul’s third airport is scheduled for completion in 2018; Diyarbakir Fortress earns UNESCO status; Antalya Airport serves a record-breaking number of passengers; Gulluk’s new marina should be operational by the end of the year; Antalya is the top business destination in Turkey; Eid and Germans boost the tourism sector; and the African heatwave that’s scorching Europe is set to hit Turkey this week, sending temperatures skywards.14 July 2015
“Don’t mess with my plans”, President Erdogan warns parties This week’s news: Erdogan warns parties discussing coalition deals to leave his presidential ambitions and plans for new constructions alone; a small boy’s tears spur a campaign to take him to meet his football hero in Istanbul; Antalya’s ice sculpture museum will be the first of its kind in the country; a dogged search for stolen manuscripts ends in success for PhD student; Turkey’s energy minister welcomes Iran nuclear deal.09 July 2015
Turkey could double its foreign property sales An expert has stated that Turkey’s potential to sell properties to foreign buyers is huge - but changes need to be made to the country’s policies before the number of properties sold reaches 60,000. The real estate consultancy head has pinpointed cities where he believes potential lies - Antalya, Izmir and Istanbul, dynamic centres with young populations and growing economies.05 July 2015
UberBOAT, Rescued baby, and seagulls in Istanbul Taxi service Uber is launching on the Bosporus, hoping to take advantage of the road congestion; a dramatic rescue in the Aegean Sea saw a 10-month-old baby plucked from the water after drifting out to sea in an inflatable device; Russians are going missing in Antalya, one still remains lost; a seagull caused a serious motorway pile up in Istanbul; a man who has been listed as “dead” since 2004 finally proves he’s in fact alive; and coalition talks are set to begin, with a deadline of 45 days given by President Erdogan.29 June 2015
Turkey property news: foreigners at an all-time high Bodrum Mayor declares that 25,000 Bodrum homes built before the 90s are in need of renovation, and that the resort town is too important a destination to neglect the poor quality homes; property purchases throughout Turkey have risen year-on-year from 2014, with Istanbul and Antalya charging out in front; and Antalya is currently number one for foreign home ownership, followed by the Mugla region and then Istanbul.22 June 2015
Tourism round up: Arab tourists on the rise In the latest tourism news from Turkey: The number of Arab visitors travelling to Istanbul is rising, while Western numbers dropped slightly; Turkish Airlines has been recognised as the fourth best global airline; Istanbul’s third airport one step closer thanks to Russian loan; Chinese tour operators ask Antalya deputy governor for a Buddhist temple; Turkey adds to its Blue Flag beach catalogue, with 39 new beaches added this year; report finds that 12 percent of Turkey’s GDP is generated by travel and tourism.17 June 2015
Economy safe under coalition: Turkey economic news All the latest economic news from Turkey: Turkey’s economy will be safe under a coalition, according to financial analysts; Economic performance in the first quarter of the year has exceeded all expectations, giving hope to increased performance for the second quarter; G20 countries work towards their goals of increasing global growth, and a G20 official emphasises the importance of Islamic finance; Akbank becomes Turkey’s most valuable brand, beating last year’s first place holder, Turk Telecom.15 June 2015
Edgy Erdogan, women MPs and drunken Kate Moss The latest news from Turkey this week: Erdogan urges speedy formation of new government; Supermodel Kate Moss is escorted off an Easyjet aeroplane after drunken behaviour on a Bodrum to London flight; Turkey and US make a good team against ISIL, says US State Department spokesperson; there are more women MPs in Turkish parliament than last term; and a Gezi Park tear gas-toting policeman has been ordered to plant trees by an Istanbul court.
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