After the regional elections in March, the local government in several provinces and cities of Turkey was changed. Adem Murat Yücel, Alanya’s former mayor, gave way to a new one, Osman Tark Ozçelik. He carried out the restructuring of municipalities. We have prepared a list of innovations and brand-new projects aimed at improving the infrastructure of the resort city.
Content:
- Resources to implement projects
- Social housing
- Gas supply
- Digitalizing power supply systems
- The cost of water supply
- Shops and catering establishments
- Medicine
- Animals
- Parks and recreational areas
- Children’s infrastructure
- Education
- Sport
- Recreation opportunities and beaches
- Obtaining a residence permit
- Future plans
Resources to implement projects
The good news for developers is that a new concrete plant has started operating in Alanya. It will supply high-quality concrete to build residential and commercial houses in Turkey. This will assist developers in speeding up the implementation of their projects on a larger scale.
An asphalt emulsion plant has launched its production as well. Consequently, the pace of repairing old roads and constructing new ones will increase.
Social housing
Apartments and villas in Turkey, in particular in Alanya, are quite expensive, but low-income categories of the population have a chance to get municipal real estate in Turkey. The keys to 250 "social" apartments were transferred to the new owners.
Gas supply
Another important news is that neighbouring areas are being gasified. As you know, imported gas (at least, it was so until recently) was delivered to Alanya, including many other cities in Turkey, in cylinders ordered on time. Alanya is being connected to the gas pipeline gradually.
Digitalizing power supply systems
The next significant event is the commissioning of a new "solar" power plant, Öztüketim-2. The plans include the third stage: Öztüketim-3. The generated energy will be redirected to the municipality.
Moreover, Alanya is to switch to digital power supply fully in 2025: we are talking about the so-called "smart metres" of the MASS system, which take into account electricity consumption in apartments in Turkey. It is also convenient that they can be controlled remotely — to track readings through a mobile application (to assess how much energy is spent, whether it is worth turning off lights or air conditioners more often in empty rooms for certain hours, etc.). Alanya is the leader in this regard. Other Turkish towns and provinces are not ready for extensive digitalization at this time. However, the whole country should switch to "smart metres" in the future.
The cost of water supply
The news is not encouraging: water tariffs in Alanya and Antalya were raised by 446% in the summer. However, there is a "graduated" calculation system: the fewer cubic metres a household spends, the less it pays. This measure is aimed at saving freshwater resources: this decision is essential for a region with such high temperatures, not just a fancy idea.
Shops and catering establishments
Food prices are checked in Alanya. Those who inflate the price deliberately will be punished severely ranging from hefty fines to shutting down their business. We remind you that you can complain about high prices on the official website of the municipality. You can reach out to the Complaints and Suggestions Department (Çözüm masası) by calling it or visiting its official website — its contacts are available on the portal as well.
Medicine
Two medical centres, Çayarası and Eğrigöl, opened by Alanya provide uninterrupted service to visitors throughout summer. The "rapid response team" consists of two doctors, four paramedics, and one ambulance.
Doctors take them seven days a week, seven days a week. Patients can undergo an ECG, glucose and blood pressure monitoring, and receive medications at the medical centre, where five patients can be hospitalized at once. If necessary, patients in critical condition can be transported to Alanya State Hospital by ambulance.
Animals
There is a "cat park" in Alanya, but residents still complain about numerous stray animals on the streets. Even though cats are peaceful, dogs form groups and intimidate people walking by. Osman Tark Ozcelik promised to increase the number of shelters for stray animals and solve problems with appropriate methods dispelling rumours of trapping and euthanasia to control the number of stray dogs on the streets.
Parks and recreational areas
Alanya's Directorate of Parks and Gardens has issued a comprehensive report: it manages 508 green areas, including parks, playgrounds, well-maintained squares, etc. Their number is growing steadily.
Moreover, there are numerous picnic spots in Alanya and its surrounding areas as well, for example, on the banks of the Dimçay and Oba rivers. In addition to playgrounds, barbecues, etc., there are cafes, souvenir shops and entertainment infrastructure for the younger generation: children’s playgrounds, slides, etc. Nevertheless, fines are imposed for "unauthorized" barbecues on city lawns. Therefore, it is better to have picnics and barbecue on special sites.
Children’s infrastructure
In addition to four new children's parks and a Fairy Tale House with a library, the Children's Academy named after Mrs. Hanife Cebeci will soon open in Mahmutlar, presumably by the end of September 2024.
The Children's Academy (a unique kindergarten) will accommodate 230 children: in addition to classrooms and play areas, there will be a special vegetable garden and a small cinema.
Education
The service has been completed this year, but the campaign will be launched again: the Alanian ATABEM course centre advised students on admission to universities and the choice of a higher educational institution based on their grades, abilities, aptitudes, etc.
The university's areas are being expanded as well: the unfinished new building of the Alanya Municipality, the construction of which was initiated by the previous mayor, will be transferred to the university. It is too big for the administration — not much space is needed, and Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University will find the best use for its spacious areas.
Another good news is that the Koza House of Culture and Art has reopened after undergoing a thorough restoration. Concerts, exhibitions, workshops, seminars and other events for a wide variety of age groups will be held here again.
Sport
Numerous competitions take place in Alanya, not just at the local and national level. Therefore, a large sports complex is being built here. The city claims to host international sporting events. One of the latest triumphs includes the announcement that the "European Beach Handball Championship" will take place in this location in 2025.
Recreation opportunities and beaches
A free municipal beach has been opened in Konaklı this season. Moreover, it has its own social infrastructure: changing rooms, sun beds, umbrellas, etc. There is parking near the beach as well.
The Cleopatra public beach, one of the most famous and beloved by tourists in Alanya, has been adapted for disabled people ("barrier-free"). It is available to both locals and guests coming on holiday. Individuals with disabilities and mobility limitations can access the beach and reach the sea with the help of a unique ramp lift when arriving by private transport. Trained personnel are on duty on the coast, and there is an infrastructure for such visitors, such as specialized locker rooms.
During this summer, hundreds of people with special needs have enjoyed their holidays on Cleopatra Beach.
Obtaining a residence permit
Rumours suggest that Alanya has stopped issuing tourist residence permits for renting real estate in development projects in Turkey. While applications were accepted in "open" areas previously, it is extremely difficult to obtain a residence permit actually similar to the situation in Antalya. Nevertheless, it is slowly starting to "open up." This indicates that foreigners leaving the country (either returning home or moving elsewhere) will soon make it possible to obtain a rental residence permit. The major problem was that there was an overwhelming number of foreign guests. With the decrease in the number of foreign nationals in the area, there are openings available for beginners. Local businesses suffer from the outflow of overseas guests: restaurants, cafes and other establishments providing various services.
While there has not been a formal announcement, social media is buzzing with advice on how to apply for a residence permit in the upcoming autumn season. Moreover, according to the same rumours, some areas may open.
What is the reason for discussing this topic without confirming the accuracy of the information? As the earlier "rumours" regarding increasing the minimum purchase amount for obtaining a residence permit for TAPU from $75,000 to $200,000 and others had been verified.
Future plans
This is the official news. The Municipality of Alanya is currently in the process of preparing its strategic plan for the upcoming five years (2025-2029). It is based on the results of surveys of respondents' focus groups and personal meetings with residents.
Going back to the strategic plan, the key focus areas include environmental conservation, sustainable tourism, infrastructure upgrades, enhancement of social welfare, and digital transformation by digitizing services wherever feasible. Special attention is paid to climate change and ecology, which is important for such a popular resort. The focus is on safeguarding and increasing the "green" areas in Alanya and using renewable energy sources.