2016-September-05

“The coup attempt did not have even a shadow of effect on the economy,” Turkey's prime minister has said. Cashflow into the country surpassed cashflow out, he added. In other news, record takeoffs and landings at Ataturk Airport, as well as the return of Russians to Turkey herald an improvement in the tourism sector.

2016-September-01

Istanbul's third bridge opened last week to great fanfare. The eight-lane bridge has eased congestion in the city, shortening commuter journeys all over the city. What's more, according to 

2016-June-22

A Knight Frank report shows us that Turkish property prices are the most buoyant in Europe, with an increase of 65% since 2012. Prices are being pushed higher by domestic demand with the country's burgeoning mortgage industry, and a strong economy, which continues to outperform expectations. Read on to find out more economic and real estate news from Turkey.

2016-June-13

The Turkish tourism industry is taking measures to boost visitor numbers after falling numbers of tourists this year. Showing the resilience Turks are famous for - the same resliliance that saw Turkey go from a economically crippled country to one of the most economically powerful on the globe - the country is determined to win back numbers for its tourist sector. Read what the industry is doing to ensure visitor numbers bounce back.

2016-June-01

Turkey's agreement to rehome thousands of Syrian refugees in exchange for greater freedom around EU has sparked controversy around Europe, especially in the UK where both sides of the Brexit camp are weighing in on Turkey's possible EU accession. We explore Turkey's history with the EU - and discuss how likely it is that the country will be granted EU membership.

2016-May-30

With the aim of boosting the property market, the government is planning to offer work permits to anyone who buys Turkish real estate above a certain level. The move follows the 2013 offer of residency visas for home buyers, and will probably extend to allowing buyers to become Turkish citizens. Turkey's property market is booming, with properties increasing by 93 percent in the last five years. However, critics say the market still has room to grow.

2016-April-04

The days of 3G mobile data are long gone - in Turkey, anyway. With the roll out of 4.5G data across the country, Turks can now stream, download and make video calls faster than ever before. With 5G data tipped to arrive in 2020, 4.5G is an interim data measure that will be most welcome in a country of voracious mobile users.

2016-March-08

Istanbul's Selim Bridge, the third link between the Asian and European sides of the city, was completed on Sunday in an official linking ceremony attended by Turkey's president and prime minister. The enormous suspension bridge will officially open in August and  will help ease traffic in the city, as well as being an important link to the Marmara Motorway. The bridge is one of a number of city-changing infrastructure projects championed by President Erdogan.

2016-January-25

Turkey's property market is set to receive a huge boost with the introduction of a "Golden Visa" scheme, like that already in operation in Portugal and Cyprus. Anyone investing $500,000 will receive automatic residency, a move likely to attract more investors, especially in Istanbul, Turkey's number one spot for overseas property buying. The move will also net billions for the Turkish economy.

2015-November-30

Data released by the Turkish Statistics Agency (TUIK) shows that real estate sales in Turkey to foreigners have increased by a huge 23.8% in October 2015 over the same period in 2014. Showing continued faith, growth, and appeal, it seems as though investors and home buyers will not be deterred from the ever growing Turkish property sector.

2015-November-03

It's been a rocky few months for Turkey. Following an inconclusive general election in June, majority party AKP failed to form a coalilition with any of the opposing parties. A second general election, held this past weekend, yielded much more decisive votes: AKP is back, and with enough votes to lead without need of a coalition. Whatever you think of President Erdogan, it's clear the economic reforms he spearheaded in the past decade or so have brought the country incredible prosperity. With Erdogan back holding the reigns, the lira has rallied and investment will surely follow.

2015-October-16

Ancient tombs in Fethiye used as a dumping ground have been cleared after a media outcry; a group of excavated gladiator tombs are to be exhibited in Mersin; two trade  deals with Russia could earn Turkey $100 billion; a sunken island in Istanbul is attracting great interest; the site of the Ankara bombings is to be renamed Democracy Square, and EU states attempt to hammer out a deal to ease the flow of refugees into Europe.

2015-September-09

The largest migration in recent history has pushed Europe and the countries bordering Syria into crisis point. Governments are struggling to deal with the influx of refugees fleeing civil war, with few countries wanting to take responsibility. Turkey has admitted the largest number of refugees - almost two million - and while resources are stretched, grassroots and local government organisations are working hard to deal with the growing numbers of displaced people.

2015-August-27

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.

2015-August-22

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.

2015-August-18

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?

2015-August-19

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.

2015-July-21

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.

2015-July-14

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.

2015-July-09

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.

{{setDate(news.stat_created)}}