The province of Antalya consistently ranks among the favorite cities of foreign investors interested in purchasing a home in Turkey. In 2022, it even outperformed Istanbul, the recognized “winner”, in some indicators of real estate sales to foreigners. Antalya is flooded with Russians and Ukrainians and is the leader in terms of rental growth - +329% over the past year.
Local governments play a critical role in making it convenient and comfortable for regional residents and newly arrived-foreigners to live. Innovations are not just “for someone specific”, but for the benefit of the city as a whole so that the use of new infrastructure, social benefits, and other advantages of life is available for all.
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Antalya
We will not touch on the air transport issue s this does not affect urban living. Although, of course, two new airlines, which were created by Turkey specifically to transport citizens of the Russian Federation, expand the possibilities. Eventually, it should lead to a reduction in ticket prices that have noticeably gone up.
For the same reason, let us briefly recall Antalya Airport's major expansion and modernization. This is undoubtedly one of the busiest airports in Turkey during the summer season. It receives over a thousand flights a day, sometimes serving approx. 200,000 passengers in a 24-hour peak day.
- On the other hand, the fact that taxi companies are teaching foreign languages to the staff is directly connected to the convenience of living in the provinces. Recently, we told you that taxi drivers will be taught English, German, and Russian. Since that news was published, new information has been added. At present drivers, will be able to choose their priority languages (as they have to learn more than one language). The Arabic language has been added to the list in Turkey. There are quite a few tourists and home buyers from the Middle East.
So, calling a taxi or solving disputable issues (which happens sometimes during trips) will become far easier.
Antalya's mayor, Ersin Yazici, explained the initiative by citing taxi drivers as the province’s “face”. In addition, they are generally the first people that newly arrived travelers speak to after the customs officers. And it would be good to have no misunderstandings in the true sense of the word. It will also make things easier, ensuring guests feel “at home” if drivers at least know basic phrases and terms.
The local Chamber of Drivers and its Chairman, Mehmet Ali Alkan, will provide tutor support for the learning process. Language courses will begin by the end of this year.
- Traffic on the roads has become safer. “Turkish reckless driving” has always been the talk of the town. Now, we can hope that this situation will gradually improve. The new rules are applied throughout the country, but Antalya, especially, will be closely monitoring the implementation of innovations by drivers. For example, the use of mandatory child seats in cars (before, a blind eye was turned to their absence), reflective vests for motorcyclists at night, etc.
- The province of Antalya has also intensified control over the condition of jeeps. Local jeep trips are extremely popular with both visitors and locals even though jeep accidents have increased in frequency. As a result, the administration will undertake a series of raids this summer to meticulously inspect the vehicles used by travel agencies, the qualifications of drivers, etc.
The sea is one of the main “factors in attracting” those wishing to purchase a home in Turkey. But what’s the point of having the sea if it’s inconvenient for swimming, beach areas are not equipped, etc.? Regarding this issue, an extremely lot of work is in process in Antalya.
- The region has numerous private, municipal, and very long beaches.
- The authorities don’t stop there. The list of beaches bearing the international “quality mark”, the so-called “Blue Flag”, is updated on an annual basis. In the province, four more beaches received this honorable “title” in 2022. All of them belong to the Manavgat municipality (the modern resort town of Side is located on its territory).
The “beach infrastructure” news is far more interesting (and more significant) than other news in the province of Antalya.
- In particular, more and more beaches are equipped for visitors with disabilities, with ramps, special changing rooms, specially prepared “entrances” into the sea, etc. Currently, Konyaalti Beach is one of these equipped beaches. There is a walking platform, sun loungers, showers, and special changing cabins are already provided for beach enthusiasts. There is also an “elevator” (a platform with a ramp) that allows you to get into the water with a minimum of additional help. All this, of course, is free.
- Another innovation’s shared by a few other countries. In Antalya, lifeguard robots “work” on the beaches now. There is also another innovation shared by only a few other countries. “Smart” units have saved over a dozen people from drowning since the beginning of the current beach season. The “lifeguard robot” can stay on the surface of the water for up to 45 minutes, sail almost a kilometer away from the shore, and lift almost 0.2 tons of cargo. It operates as a drone. The robot is equipped with a camera and lighting equipment. It’s even able to “talk” with swimmers in the sea.
The local newspaper, The Daily Sabah, recently clarified the details. This is the first time that such a project has been implemented in the country, and rescue robots are made locally in Turkey. Since the “rescuers” have performed well, likely, this technique will soon spread to other resort locations.
- The media has reported that hotel owners in Antalya have finally recovered from the financial effects of the pandemic period. To ensure that there are no accommodation issues for city guests, it has been decided to extend the holiday season this year until November 15 (instead of the previously announced October 28). Additionally, active restoration and repair of outdated housing facilities are being carried out, and new homes are opening up all the time.
These new options are sometimes quite unexpected. For example, another Antalya hotel will appear on the roof of the well-known Mall of Antalya shopping center.
And this is not just an ordinary hotel. It will be a five-star hotel under the famous international brand Hilton. At the Mall, The Antalya Hilton 5* will include 144 rooms, or up to approx. 300 guests (considering the possible accommodation of families with children). The area of the indoor part of the hotel will be 9,354 square meters.
- The number of recreational facilities is consistently growing; last summer, the 3D Virtual Universe Center in Antalya opened its doors. You may now visit Belek for more than just the Land of Legends theme park, thanks to the Digiverse Digital Universe. Diverse is not just designed to amaze with multimedia visual effects; throughout its 5,000 square meters “virtual universe”, there are many intriguing things to discover. There is art, technology, entertainment, and even a 360-degree immersive center. Visitors of all categories, ranging in age from 7 to 70, will find something to do here.
Alanya
By 2023, Alanya, might “leave” the province of Antalya and gain its independence. By the way, many people prefer it to Antalya. At the moment, over 40,000 foreigners from numerous other states live here.
For almost 24 hours a day, work is being done in Antalya and Alanya to upgrade the transport system, fix damaged roads, cover dirt roads with asphalt, and set up new, more practical transportation interchanges.
Since new residential complexes are being constructed on the outskirts of Alanya at an incredibly fast pace, the city is expanding extremely quickly.
So, what's new in Alanya?
- In addition to the abundant roads, social development infrastructure is being built with much effort. In the Bektash area, there is an entertainment zone for children covering over 700 square meters. Places with equipment for outdoor sports grounds, table tennis tables, playgrounds, etc. are organized here. This was stated by Nazmi Uyyar, the local government representative.
Let's clarify that Bektash is not the only area with new playgrounds for children. They are appearing all over the place almost monthly. The above-mentioned one is just the most “prominent”.
- Its’ not just about kid-friendly entertainment. The city's largest office, retail, and entertainment projects are already under construction. There will be various “points of attraction” for both residents and tourists. The infrastructure will include a large indoor cinema, a market, offices, and several social facilities, including a digital library. There will be several level parking lots for visitors. Alanya's mayor expressed his hope that by 2023, this complex will be one of the province's top attractions and not just in the city.
- The construction of a large-scale cultural center began in Mahmutlar. It will have a multi-functional hall that will accommodate up to 1,200 people, a conference and theatre hall for 450 people, a wedding hall for 100 people, a lobby area of 360 square meters, and also a library, a gym, six workshops, a kitchen, warehouses, a prayer room, a toilet, an office, a room for newlyweds, a backstage, a director's room, and technical rooms. A covered parking lot for 120 cars will be provided, convenient for visitors. On the territory of the new cultural center, there will also be an outdoor area of 1,000 square meters for wedding ceremonies and events, a public garden, and a cozy park with a big canopy to shelter from the weather and be able to remain outdoors. Alanya Mayor Adem Murat Yucel was personally present at the pouring of the first cubic meters of concrete. The mayor promised that the center's development would proceed swiftly after the foundation was poured and some preliminary insulation work was completed.
- The waterfront will also be sorted out soon. This is especially true for the area of Mahmutlar, the most sought-after region for “long-term” tourists who have made Alanya their permanent home, being several months or years. To give the promenade area a more dignified image, several street cafes were demolished here in winter, and new ones are currently being constructed in their place by a new municipal project.
- It is interesting that in Alanyait will be possible to not only please the senses but also to create. The city (more specifically, the Municipal Parks and Gardens Authority) has launched a new hobby garden project as part of the Tropical Fruit Promotion Center.
It should be made clear here that Alanya has seen a long-term increase in the production of some quite rare tropical fruits - 35 species are grown in the city and its outskirts, and 15 of those are economically valuable (mangoes that are comparable to those from Peru, passion fruit, etc.).The size of the farmers’ plantations is expanding, and of late, there are now more ways to get involved in such projects than just hiring people (for fruit picking and care) and doing "tasting tours." The opportunity to cultivate fruits for consumption has now been given to the residents.
The tropical fruit promotion center is an area of roughly 77,000 square meters, which includes open production areas, big indoor greenhouses for growing tropical fruit, and unique gardens where people can plant for fun. The “working” section is offset by “leisure” areas including walking paths, cafes, sports grounds, fitness centers, play areas, etc. Additionally, there are surprising “components” of the infrastructure such as “zones of aromatic herbs”, “master class places,” and “gastronomy training.” There are plenty of places to relax, as well as parking lots and restrooms.
- Local authorities also partly took care of solving the “student housing problem”. At the end of August, the distribution of places in a new modern female student dormitory was completed. The institution is designed for 120 residents; it will be administered by the Department of Social Services in Alanya. It will provide students with beds as well as food and medical care.
“We will continue to make an effort to continue to build other cultural and social facilities in our city,” Mr. Yucel said.
- The next significant educational institution for residents’ is a hybrid nursery. They will be able to immediately take care of approx. 200 kids in a territory of almost 3,000 square meters.
- More significant news, especially for active sports enthusiasts, is the completion of the construction of a colossal cycle path (21 km long), that will run from the center of Alanya to the Kargicak area. Along with this, the next phase of the waterfront development project, initiated by the city municipality to regulate the movement of vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians on the waterfront, has been completed. A renovated promenade with a bike path has been put into operation.
All the sections of the road are now connected, and anyone can get from the center of the city to Kargicak on foot, by bicycle, scooter, etc.
Adem Murat Yucel emphasized that the project was completed in a very short time.
- In Alanya, as per Antalya, a lot of attention is being paid to taking care of the coastline, especially to hospitality and cleanliness of the beaches. In the summer, the beaches with the Blue Flag were checked here for status compliance. As the award is presented with the support of one of the environmental organizations in Turkey (TÜRÇEV), the inspections were carried out with the participation of its representatives. As a result, over 84 beaches in Alanya, plus four water vehicles and one marina in Alanya, were subjected to thorough "testing": they all confirmed their “title” (the “Blue Flag”) in 2022.
- In terms of technological development, Alanya is not falling behind. “Rescue robots” may be used in Antalya but Alanya is the first city to introduce Alanya Taxi, a mobile application for calling a taxi, The city's Chamber of Drivers Chairman formally announced this initiative recently Even though the app has been “running” in test mode since the end of August and will continue to do so for several more months, locals and tourists have already had a chance to experience how useful it is. The application is downloaded to a mobile phone and is in eight languages: Turkish, English, Russian, Arabic, Persian, French, German, and Dutch. This greatly simplifies the issue of calling a taxi. As we know, sometimes the usual terminals with buttons don’t work, or foreign citizens who do not speak Turkish and the drivers simply cannot agree on the route or they cannot ask them about the details of the trip.
- Finally, this is not a “place” or an “application”, but a prominent trend. Service station employees also decided to learn foreign languages after discovering that 90% of the customers of car repair shops in Alanya are foreigners (especially ordinary people from Russia and Ukraine). As you may guess, service station employees will learn the Russian language first, to the best of their ability.
In conclusion, it should be made clear that new educational and entertainment organizations, such as clubs and courses, occasionally start-up in Antalya and Alanya. You will recall that newcomers to Turkey can join free language classes when they apply for even a simple tourist residence visa. However, these are not the only options available; the local municipal cultural center also offers classes in knitting, sewing, dance, and other hobbies. There are dozens of free training programs accessible in major cities (like Antalya), in contrast to small cities where you can only expect a few Turkish courses.
