Home to The Mausoleum, one of seven wonders of the ancient world, Bodrum has long been recognised as a celebrity hotspot. Nowadays, jet-setting actresses including Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman and Liz Hurley holiday in Bodrum, but more than two thousand years ago, Cleopatra, Queen of Ancient Egypt, was also known to reside in this charming Mediterranean town.

To this day, the elegant celebrity tradition thrives in Bodrum, with infamous individuals such as Beyonce Knowles selecting it as their ideal holiday destination or investing in the unique property found on the peninsula.

With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, Bodrum is renowned for its exquisite range of wildlife and natural setting of pine trees and olive groves. However, it also offers an extensive range of leisure activities including water sports, golf and yachting. Hollywood actor Tom Hanks who sojourned in Bodrum for a few days whilst cruising the Turkish coastline on board a magnificent yacht has enjoyed the latter of these pastimes.

Gloriously tranquil fishing villages frame the peninsula, offering the serenity of an unspoiled coastline and an authentic taste of Turkey’s rich cultural history.

Nonetheless, fashionable celebrities have long appreciated the distinguished nightlife presented in Bodrum centre. Whilst living in Bodrum, singer Norah Jones worked at the animated nightclub Hadigari and Dustin Hoffman held an exclusive party at Europe’s largest open-air disco, Halikarnas. The unique nightclub was also home to the very first international beauty pageant, Miss Globe, in 1988.

Many of the celebrity figures that have delighted in visiting Bodrum have stayed at extravagant hotels or have rented or invested in luxury villas within the region. Hannah Gelbart of Cumberland Properties recommends selecting an established and guaranteed property developer who offers top-quality, high-end construction with no expense spared.

So if you can picture yourself lounging by a spectacular infinity pool, shopping in an authentic Turkish market or a luxury boutique and sipping cocktails under the stars at a magnificent bar on the main street of Bodrum, you can see why Turkey has been tipped as a top tourist destination for 2010. Do not delay in experiencing it for yourself.

On his first visit as prime minister, he said the country could become a “great European power”, helping build links with the Middle East.

He compared hostility to the membership bid in some parts of the EU with the way the UK’s entry was once regarded.

Mr Cameron was expected to agree a new strategic partnership with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during his visit.

‘Frustrating progress’

In a speech at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, Mr Cameron said he wanted to “pave the road” for Turkey to join the EU, saying the country was “vital for our economy, vital for our security & vital for our diplomacy”.

A European Union without Turkey at its heart was “not stronger but weaker… not more secure but less… not richer but poorer”.

Mr Cameron added: “I’m here to make the case for Turkey’s membership of the EU. & to fight for it.”

At a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Cameron suggested the UK would impose provisional restrictions - as with Bulgarians & Romanians after they joined - on the right of Turkish people to live & work in the UK after it joined the EU.

But the rapid rate of Turkey’s economic growth would make any restrictions unnecessary in decades to come, he added.

He said: “One of the effects here is that [as] economies grow & become more evolved, the pressure & flow [of people] between countries isn’t so great.”

Referring to former French President General Charles de Gaulle’s efforts to block British membership of the EU in the 1960s, Mr Cameron said in his speech: “We know what it’s like to be shut out of the club. But we also know that these things can change.

“When I think about what Turkey has done to defend Europe as a Nato ally, & what Turkey is doing today in Afghanistan, alongside our European allies, it makes me angry that your progress towards EU membership can be frustrated in the way it has been.

“My view is clear. I believe it is just wrong to say that Turkey can guard the camp but not be allowed to sit in the tent.

“So I will remain your strongest possible advocate for EU membership & greater influence at the top table of European diplomacy.”

Regional role

Mr Cameron said those who opposed EU membership were driven by protectionism, narrow nationalism or prejudice.

“Those who wilfully misunderstand Islam, they see no difference between real Islam & the distorted version of the extremists. They think the problem is Islam itself. And they think the values of Islam can just never be compatible with the values of other religions, societies or cultures.”

He said: “All of these arguments are just plain wrong. And as a new government in Britain, I want us to be at the forefront of an international effort to defeat them.”

While praising Turkey’s secular & democratic traditions, Mr Cameron stressed that Turkey must continue to push forward “aggressively” with economic & political reform to maintain momentum towards EU membership.

He said the country had a “unique influence” in helping to build a stable Afghanistan through political & economic co-operation & fostering understanding between Israel & the Arab world.

Source: BBC

Turkey itself is in the midst of a property boom. Turkey’s current accession talks for membership of the EU, with likely inclusion as a full member in the near future, are progressing at a meteoric pace and are adding to the burgeoning interest in the Turkish property market.

Turkish property still offers massive potential for returns on investment. Last year property prices rose by circa 50% with a proportionate increase in people looking to purchase homes in Turkey. This year has seen prices increase by a further 30%. This extra demand is set to push prices up significantly and further underpins the market.

Since its application for EU membership, Turkey has received a host of foreign investment that will contribute to fast improvements to its infrastructure in readiness for EU inclusion over the next ten years. Already improvements are in evidence, with the recent refurbishment of the main road between Milas-Bodrum Airport and Bodrum. Additionally, there has been further investment from both Europe and Russia in relation to the respective Nabucco and South Stream pipeline projects.

Corporate investors are creating new resorts, golf courses and other tourist facilities and these are clear indications of a growing tourist economy that will continue to boost capital growth for today’s property investments.

The most popular spots for tourism and property purchase are along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and over the past eighteen months, the number of Britons owning property in Turkey has increased by more than 200%. It is now possible for foreigners to obtain local mortgages, further encouraging this emerging market.

It’s not just property investors who are showing a strong interest in Turkish property at the current time. Due to the low cost of living and beautiful natural resources Turkey is also an appealing location for second homes and a popular retirement destination for many Europeans.

The most popular searches for Turkey property are for Bodrum property.

Delivering a speech at a press conference called to present the association’s recently released report on the sector, Tanes said that real estate in Turkey had been one of the sectors that was anticipated to have been hit most severely by the global financial crisis.

However, he noted, the sector saw a 24% rise in housing sales figures in the January -September period of 2009 over the same period of 2008.

The fact that demand for property in Turkey, both domestically and internationally, remains strong is partly fuelled by the burgeoning tourist industry and strong overseas investment in Turkey maintaining demand, consequently this will have helped to deflect the worst impact of the crisis and continues to underpin the market.

These figures are certainly bourn out by Cumberland Properties own experiences of sales of property in Bodrum for the period.

Turkey is currently undergoing preparations to becoming the next European golf tourism hotspot. The present lack of operating courses in comparison to typical golfing destinations such as Spain and Portugal is soon to be rectified with major expansion plans for Turkey.

The majority of courses currently present in the country are connected to hotels in the Belek area of the Mediterranean coast, with one course also operating in Bodrum. The remaining courses are located in Istanbul.

The tourism council understands the attraction of golf tourism to European visitors and property investors, creating plans to transform the country into a key golfing destination. The Turkish Golf Federation has designed plans for the creation of 100 courses within 4 years, aimed at generating returns of US$1 billion per year.

The holding of the 2010 European Challenge Tour in Belek provides an exciting opportunity for the introduction of golf tourism in Turkey. The tournament is also expected to provide a fantastic experience for Turkish amateurs of the sport and draw mass appeal to the awareness of golf tourism in Turkey.

Although new courses are planned for several areas including Ankara and Istanbul, the touristy appeal of the Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines is expected to continue drawing attention to Turkey’s buy-to-let and investment market. Development of new courses to championship standards will assist in the potential for Turkey to hold major international tournaments in the future.

Currently Turkey has a dozen 18-hole golf courses in the planning stages, ideal for assisting the transformation of the country into a preferred golfing destination. Luxury buy-to-let properties constructed in the vicinity of golf course enable exceptional returns in an already sought-after destination. Owners of properties in preferred locations can expect higher than average yield returns, along with increased potential for short-term tenants.

As awareness of golf tourism increases in Turkey, investors are snapping up properties in key locations to ensure the greatest mid to long-term capital growth potential. Providing buyers with the products suited to their highest demands is beneficial for increased foreign investment, tourism and overall awareness for future growth and sustainability.

Bodrum more popular than Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Ibiza, Dubai – and even the World Cup!
The data was compiled from the last quarter of 2009 when the majority of holidays are being planned for 2010 and provides an interesting insight into where the British plan to holiday this year. It is hoped a good number of visitors will go onto purchase property in Turkey.

Bodrum (BJV) ranked 15th and Dalaman (DLM) 5th over increasingly less popular Spanish destinations such as; Palma, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Barcelona, Murcia, Ibiza, Fuerteventura and Madrid - a number of which plummeted down the rankings.

Thomas Cook, TUI and easyJet have already announced increases to their services to Bodrum and Dalaman for 2010 to cater for the growth in demand.

Favourite Italian destinations such as Rome, Venice and Milan also saw their rankings slip.

Bodrum and Dalaman polled higher positions than even the most traditional European holiday destinations such as Faro (Portugal), Geneva (Switzerland), Paris and Nice (France), Amsterdam (Holland), Dublin (Ireland), Prague (Czech Rep.), Berlin and Munich (Germany), Salzburg (Austria), Crete (Greece) and Sofia (Bulgaria).

A major contributory factor could well be the strength of the Euro against the pound where the British in particular, when contrasted against their European counterparts, enjoy a beneficial rate when exchanging their pounds for Turkish Liras – more than doubling their money.

Turkey significantly attracted more interest as a holiday destination than Cyprus, Egypt, Morocco, Dubai and Malta.

Further afield, again Bodrum and Dalaman attracted more interest than New York and Las Vegas (USA), Bangkok (Thailand) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).

Orlando however, polled 4th position and is one the highest climbers compared to the same period last year, up 12 places. Travel Editor Sam Baldwin comments: “The rise in popularity of Orlando is primarily due to the new Harry Potter theme park opening in the spring. Other big movers include Johannesburg and Cape Town as the World Cup is just around the corner”. The top 3 positions remained unchanged.

Turkey emerged as a clearly favoured holiday destination for 2010 and is certainly continuing to build on its growing reputation as a cost effective alternative to traditional Spanish destinations.

Cumberland Properties can endorse these findings having already sold 2 properties at Woodland Regency in the first week of January 2010 and are currently experiencing a significant increase, over the same period last year, in enquiries for both property in Bodrum and rentals in Bodrum, having already secured a number of reservations for the ever popular Seaview Regency Prestige

Oh, and should you have the good fortune to be holidaying in Turkey during the world cup; fans of the beautiful game will be relieved to hear that their enthusiasm is shared by most Turks, so rest assured you won’t have to travel to far to find superb coverage of the event.

Source: Skyscanner

The name “Mausoleum”, describing the monument enclosing a burial chamber, actually originated from the original edifice in Bodrum. Its majestic, temple-like structure, decorated with reliefs and statuary on a massive base, stood resiliently for 1700 years until it was eventually devastated by earthquakes. Today, you can still visit the foundations and several pieces of sculpture that remain from the immense memorial.

Crusaders, arriving in Bodrum in the 15^th Century, transformed the remains of the Mausoleum into the remarkable Bodrum Castle. Still standing today, the stunning castle overlooks the harbour and the International Marina and visitors flock to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology that is accommodated in its grounds. As one of the finest examples of Crusader architecture in Eastern Europe, the stunning fortress hosts many cultural festivals throughout the year.

The Bodrum peninsula features a notably prevalent artistic and intellectual recent history, providing secondary residence to many artists, poets and singers. A variety of European expats have been attracted to the area due to its ideal climate, luxurious yet relaxed lifestyle and extremely high investment potential. As well as foreign investment, Turkish nationals are also eager to acquire holiday villas in the region and take part in the ever-popular leisure activities that Bodrum’s supreme location offers, including yachting, water sports and golf. The immense and heavenly coastline, with miles of beaches, bays and coves to discover, make every voyage peaceful and enjoyable.

Accessing the area is progressively easier since Bodrum boasts both an international and a domestic airport that receive daily flights from across Europe.

Also designed by Michel Gayon, the parkland-style New course at Gloria is just a five-minute walk from one of the most idyllic beaches on the eastern Mediterranean. Both visually attractive and challenging to play, the New is not overly long (it measures 6,239 metres from the back tees), but its undulating, tree-lined setting is shaped by four large lakes and 67 bunkers (four more than the Old). Gayon has fully taken advantage of this varied terrain and created a fascinating test of golf. the number of holes at Gloria to 45, and therefore make it the biggest golf resort in Belek.