The decision is expected to increase trade between the two nations & has excited tourism operators, as it will go into effect prior to the start of the summer season.

After the initial protocol to lift joint visa regulations was signed on 12 May 2010, the Re Admission Agreement, considered the final stage in the process, was signed between Turkey & Russia.

According to the Russian Embassy visa regulations should be lifted between the two countries in one to two months time.

Now, not only will businessmen be able to travel freely without the burden of obtaining visas, but the practice is also expected to positively affect tourism between the two nations. Last year alone, three million Russian tourists vacationed in Turkey.

Cumberland Properties welcomes the news, as making travel easier between the two countries will undoubtedly increase the number of rental enquiries to Seaview Regency Prestige, already popular with Russian tourists if the 2010 season is anything to go by, commented Cumberland Properties rentals manager Utku Karamanlioglu.

He added that the prospect of owning a Turkish property, whether as a holiday home, or a property investment in Turkey would now become even more attractive to Russian property investors keen to capitalise on the growing number of Russian tourists visiting the Bodrum peninsula.

Cumberland Properties have recently sold a significant quantity of Turkish property at its popular Woodland Regency development to Russian nationals both as Turkish holiday homes & also as Turkish property investment.

Following Cumberland Properties successful debut at the Moscow International Property Show last November Cumberland are planning to have a presence at the forthcoming DOMEXPO to be held at Gostiny Dvor, just 200 meters from Red Square, Moscow, between Thursday, 24 February – Sunday, 27 February 2011.

For further information:

Elena Sikorsky elena@cumberlandproperties.net London office [Наш русскоговорящий сотрудник]

Selim Sirri selim@cumberlandproperties.net London office

Volkan Akgözlü volkan@cumberlandproperties.net Bodrum office

Utku Karamanlioglu utku@cumberlandproperties.net Bodrum office

Source: Sabah

Tim said, “Being a footballer you don’t always know when you’re going to be able to get away, this is ideal.”

Tim emphasised that the best option was Turkey & Bodrum, “It’s five minutes from Bodrum airport, so I can take in some sun, play a bit of golf & fly my family over from Australia for a holiday to.”

Tim explained some of the reasons for choosing Turkey; beautiful geographical location, fantastic climate – weather & beaches, good food & a great tourist industry which is booming; “It is not to far either from Galatasaray who my mate Harry Kewell plays for so I will be able to go & watch him.”

He added “I have travelled all over the world & Turkey has got to be one of the most beautiful place I have been, there are not only places like Bodrum, but Istanbul to, with so much to see; it is a great place to have a holiday home.”

Tim paid around 200,000 GBP for his property but there are many apartments & villas in Bodrum. Tim added that his Turkish villa is big & light & the living area is “summer living” to include all the comforts, which suits him being an Australian.

Tim who is interested in real estate added that it was not just about money & investment; he wanted to enjoy the luxury lifestyle as well.

Tim is in good company as Andy Johnson, striker for English premier league team Fulham, also has property in Bodrum.

If football’s not your thing & although he might be retired from boxing, Ricky ‘the hitman’ Hatton could still knock you over with his sheer enthusiasm for his latest property venture.

“I bought a villa off-plan near Bodrum in Turkey two years ago & now I want to build a training camp there as well”, says the 31-year-old former world champion.

“I’m building a stable of about 25 fighters & the place will be ideal for them. It’s hilly, which will be great for their road work, the heat will help them acclimatise for fights abroad, & the golf makes it an ideal place to chill after a fight.”

If this all reads like the familiar story of the retired fighter rushing to spend his hard-won fortune then think again — Hatton is no fool with his money.

Managed by his father, Ray, he has his own leisurewear range & is now moving into the management & promotion side of boxing — hence his plans for the training camp in Bodrum.

He has been typically canny with his property dealings. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom villa in Bodrum comes with its own swimming pool & cost just 159,000 GBP.

Up until recently Hatton lived in a modest semi-detached house in Hyde, Manchester, where he was brought up. It was only when fans took to looking through his windows that he decided on something rather more private.

So he bought a far larger £750,000 home a few streets away in Gee Cross, put in a swimming pool & games room & built a high surrounding wall.

Hatton now lets the semi in Hyde & lives in the new house with his girlfriend. He also has a holiday villa in Tenerife. Considering that he is believed to be worth around £25 million, it is hardly an extravagant portfolio.

Hatton, a fierce Manchester City supporter, has always remained true to his roots & it was family holidays in Bodrum that first brought him to the Bodrum peninsula.

“I used to come here with my parents & my brother & now that I could be described as retired from the ring, I want to spend time here with my girlfriend & my own little boy, Campbell”, he says. “I just can’t get over how much the place has changed. There are golf courses galore & Bodrum is absolutely beautiful.”

The part of Bodrum where Hatton has chosen to invest is undergoing a £4.1 billion development “Golf is the driving force behind it,” say English estate agents Savills.

“You can get phenomenal value for money in terms of property in Turkey & can also let your Turkish property ten months of the year quite easily.”

The Ankara government is behind this golfing boom. Areas have been identified for up to 100 new courses to be built by 2014 & the policy is already paying dividends.

The prices might sound low, but don’t imagine Bodrum is a cheap & cheerful part of Turkey. It is a favourite holiday spot for wealthy types from Istanbul. In Yalikavak, its plushest suburb, the prices of some modern houses start at more than 1.5 million GBP & mansions sell for 6 million GBP & above.

Investing in Turkey appears to have been a shrewd move on Hatton’s part. With its population of 73 million & growing, there is a significant shortage of housing & this should maintain demand & ensure prices continue to appreciate. The Turkish real estate & construction sector grew by 21.9% in the second quarter of 2010. These types of statistics have increased confidence in the Turkish real estate & construction sectors, & English investors are gravitating toward Turkey to take advantage after the financial crisis.

Turkey is also economically sound, having come out of the recession relatively unscathed, largely thanks to not being in the Euro-zone. It is the 15th-largest economy in the world & would be the sixth largest in the European Union if, as expected, it is granted full membership by 2020.

Turkey is the centre of attraction for property investment especially for European investors after the global financial crisis.

Is golf much of an attraction to Ricky Hatton when he visits Bodrum? “To be honest with you, I just hack around the course — I’m not very good,” he says.

“But I find it relaxing. And one thing is for sure — it’s a damn sight less painful than fighting.”

Sources: Milliyet, Haber, Daily Mail.

Fears over job security falling European property prices and the strength of the Euro are forcing many to reconsider their options according to a poll commissioned by Moneycorp the UK foreign exchange specialist.

250 in-depth telephone interviews were conducted last month and the findings indicated that 70 percent of those interviewed were now considering packing up and going home.

Job security was the most common concern with 35 percent worried about losing their job.

Falling European property prices was the second major concern closely followed by the strength of the Euro that for many paid in sterling has meant a dramatic cut in income or pensions.

Britons living in Spain where the recession is biting hardest for expatriates are the most worried about losing their jobs with 41 percent afraid they will be affected by the Spanish unemployment rate that currently stands at 18 percent.

More than a quarter (28 percent) of British expatriate living in Spain and more than one third (33 percent) of those living in Germany claim a sterling pension and rely on it as their main income.

An average of 70 percent have repatriation in mind says the survey while more than a third in some EU counties say they are definitely going back to the UK - including 38 percent of British expats in Germany, 37 percent in Spain, 34 percent in Italy and 33 percent in France.

David Kerns, Head of Private Clients at Moneycorp, said: “Our research highlights the real impact of the downturn for Britons living abroad”.

However, Turkey remains outside the EU affording the British in particular especially attractive exchange rates when compared to their European counterparts. This makes Turkey an affordable alternative to the more established retirement destinations such as Spain. Turkey already has a burgeoning British expat community.

Property in Turkey whether you are looking for Turkish property for sale or simply rentals in Turkey currently represents fantastic value for money. Furthermore, Turkey continues to enjoy sustainable growth in its property market with both domestic and international demand underpinning the market. Returns for rentals in Turkey remain strong.

Simultaneously, the strength of Turkey’s underlying economy and continued growth in tourism bolsters the case for considering Turkey as a real alternative retirement destination.

Turkey’s accession to full membership of the EU continues apace, increasing confidence amongst many Europeans in Turkey as a stable retirement destination.

For more information visit: www.moneycorp.com

An increasing number of events dedicated to the elite segment of real estate are proving the fact – the crisis has been overcome & a new era has been ushered in.

Positive changes in the market have already activated its most reliable sector - luxury property. Cumberland Properties participated in the XV International Property Show in Moscow, which is closing the season of presentations in real estate this year.

Keeping with tradition aiGroup invited exhibitors to the shopping centre “Tishinka” in the centre of the Russian capital, where 184 companies from 40 countries brought fresh designs for the demanding Russian client. Around 8,000 visitors, among which friends & partners of Cumberland Properties, were asking questions of real estate companies’ representatives & choosing the most suitable offers during the two show days.

As president of aiGroup Kim Waddoup remarked, “there is yet no better tool for investment than property, especially an overseas property”.

This year has significantly expanded the selection of geography. Five to six years ago Russians were buying real estate mainly in Europe - in Spain, France & the UK. Today there is hardly an island left where footprints of a Russian buyer won’t be found. Distances do not confuse Russians. However, their neighbours, Bulgaria, Finland, Montenegro & Turkey remain the favourites & are constantly strengthening their positions.

Surprisingly the economic crisis has had a beneficial impact on the overseas segment of real estate. In the context of inflation, the need to invest, or simply a desire to secure financial assets, it has prompted many Russians to refer to such a reliable instrument as property ownership abroad.

This was evidenced by a significant number of interested visitors, investors & potential buyers at the Moscow International Property Show this year.

Russians & representatives of other CIS countries are not only aware of what it is to invest in real estate, they also believe this sector to be the most profitable to invest in.

That’s why Cumberland Properties who have long specialised in the design, construction & provision of exquisite interiors to their exclusive properties in Turkey, decided to offer the market a few new projects at the Moscow International Property Show where Cumberland’s Woodland Regency development was the most admired of all.

While the name of Cumberland is becoming familiar to the sophisticated ear of the discerning Russian buyer our team continues to work on the next set of fabulous ideas.

The Turkish Office of Culture & Tourism was an exceptional contributor to this year’s World Travel Market [WTM] held at ExCel in London during November with this year’s Turkish stand growing 30% in size since last year.

At the press conference Mr. Ozgur Ozaslan, Turkey’s Deputy Undersecretary Responsible for Tourism, announced that Turkey had not experienced any reduction in its tourist arrivals in the past two years unlike many other countries.

Indeed, by welcoming over 27 million visitors to its shores in 2009, Turkey achieved an increase of 2.8% in visitor numbers positioning it as the only country to benefit from a growth in inbound tourist numbers in 2009.

Growth looks set to be even more spectacular during 2010 according to the early figures which reveal over 23 million visitors arriving in Turkey in the first nine months of the year, extrapolated, a year on year increase in tourist arrivals of 6%.

Turkey’s success has also been reflected in winning various tourism awards to include being voted “Favourite Destination” in the 2010 Reader’s Travel Awards by the readers of the world famous Condé Nast Traveller UK magazine & numerous World Travel - European Awards it has received this year.

Istanbul, the European Capital of Culture for 2010, has also staged countless arts & cultural festivals, activities & concerts & has acted as host to a succession of world sports events such as the FIBA world basketball championships & Formula 1 events.

In a continuation of Turkey’s emerging role in the sports world the Universiad Winter Games will be held in Erzurum, Turkey’s centre of winter sports, between 27 January – 6 February 2011, & the 11^th European Youth Olympic Festival [EYOF] the only all-European multi-sport event will be held in Trabzon between 23 - 30 July 2011.

In London to receive the Chatham House Statesman of the Year Award 2010 from the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II, Turkish President Mr. Abdullah Gul will be opening the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre in November 2010, [Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centres have opened in Bosnia Herzegovina, Albania, Egypt, Macedonia & Kazakhstan. Plans are underway for new centres in other countries including Germany, France, Kosovo, Syria & Russia], in addition to the Mimar Sinan exhibition held at the Royal Institute of British Architects [RIBA] dedicated to the chief Ottoman royal architect during the 16th century. His most famous work being the Suleiman Mosque in Istanbul.

Mimar Sinan [1490 – 1578] was the chief Ottoman architect & civil engineer to sultans Suleiman I, Selim II & Murad III. He was responsible for the construction of more than three hundred major structures amongst other more modest projects.

President Gul stated that “Mimar Sinan is a part of Ottoman & Turkish culture & a part of the common heritage we share with countries from Romania to Saudi Arabia, from Greece to Israel.”

The WTM Turkey press conference was attended by Mr. Ozgur Ozaslan, Deputy Undersecretary Responsible for Tourism; Mr. Cumhur Guven Tasbasi, General Director for Promotion; Mr. Levent Demirel, Deputy General Director - all from the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism & Mr. Irfan Onal, Director, Turkish Culture & Tourism Office UK.

Additionally, Turkish Members of Parliament, Provincial Governors & representatives of the tourism industry also attended WTM this year.

There were also special head-to-head sessions with senior representatives from the Mugla & Antalya regions & a series of high-level meetings throughout the four days.

Reversing the winter trend of art galleries closing in Bodrum, the Nurol Art Gallery Bodrum opened in the Oasis Shopping Centre. The Oasis Shopping Centre & Nurol Art Gallery in Ankara worked together for the new opening.

The exhibition includes paintings, ceramics & sculpture by the three very talented members of the Eren family, Cemil, Barış & Zeynep. The Erens are well known both in Ankara & in Turkish art circles & have a long association with Bodrum on the Aegean coast.

Cemil Eren was one of the artists who worked on frescoes at Anıtkabir, Atatürk’s Mausoleum & Museum, in the 1950s. He had his first solo exhibition in Ankara in 1957 & first exhibited in Bodrum in the Haluk Elbe Gallery at Bodrum Castle. He has a summerhouse in Gölkoy & over the years has created a whole series of landscapes & studies inspired by Bodrum.

In the new exhibition he has included his earlier paintings of fishermen as well as his most recent studies of birds & fish while using his signature mastery of white & pale blue shades.

His daughter, Zeynep Eren, has turned her artistic talents to ceramics & statues, creating earthy solid figures in the Kybele tradition of strong Anatolian women. She has also included a series of colourful scenes painted on ceramic tiles using the same style of female figures.

Barış Eren now is a full-time director with the Ankara State Theatre & will not be attending the opening because he will be preparing performances in İzmir. His involvement with theatre is evident in his colourful modern figurative canvases, which are created with a mixture of pastels, acrylics & pencils & exude movement & vitality. The artists’ works are represented in private & corporate collections in Turkey & Europe.

For more information visit: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkey, a country rich with exquisite cultural heritage, houses one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the magnificent Mausoleum of Mausolus. The monument, situated in the stunning coastal city of Bodrum in southwest Turkey was impressively constructed to house the tomb of Mausolus, ancient ruler of Caria.

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.

Internationally renowned painter Burhan Doğançay, whose work “Mavi Senfoni” (Blue Symphony) was sold for 2.2 million Turkish Liras at auction in Istanbul last month, has presented a painting to Nüket Vural, an orthopaedist in Bodrum who treated Doğançay some weeks ago.

Doğançay suffered an injury at his home in Bodrum Turgutreis district. He was immediately hospitalized & was treated by Vural.

The world-renowned painter paid a visit to Vural before he flew to the United States for an exhibition. During his visit, Doğançay gave Vural a 89 x 130 cm painting titled “Gone Tomorrow Here Today,” a piece from the artist’s “New York’s Blue Walls” collection.

“A person’s health is invaluable,” said Doğançay. “I wanted to thank the doctor who gave me my health back.” Vural said the painting was the biggest present she has received in her professional life.

Doğançay’s work, “Mavi Senfoni” (Blue Symphony), was sold on Nov. 15 for a record price at an auction held at the Swissotel in Istanbul. Though the initial asking price was 1 million liras, the final figure was 2.2 million liras, a record for contemporary Turkish art. The painting from 1987 was first displayed at the Istanbul Biennial the same year.

Doğançay, whose works are displayed in 64 of the world’s most important museums, including the New York Metropolitan, the Paris Pompidou & the Munich Pinakothek, started work on “Mavi Senfoni” in his atelier in Gallery Baraz’s seven-floor building in Istanbul’s Kurtuluş neighbourhood during visits home from the United States. His blue İznik tile pattern drew inspiration from the Sultanahmet Mosque.

“My dream has come true,” said Doğançay at the time. “An artist’s work should first fetch a high price in his or her own country. Only in this way can it draw the attention of the international market. I am very pleased that one of my works was sold for such a price at an auction. This is a turning point in Turkish art,” he said.

For more information visit: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com

]]> http://www.golfing-in-turkey.com/bodrum-properties/painter-delights-bodrum-doctor.html/feed http://www.golfing-in-turkey.com/uncategorized/the-perfect-investment-environment.html http://www.golfing-in-turkey.com/uncategorized/the-perfect-investment-environment.html#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:50:32 +0000 admin http://www.golfing-in-turkey.com/?p=111 Turkey is the perfect investment environment with its unique location and proximity to markets in Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, The Middle East and North Africa. Global investors are joining in Turkey’s economic and social growth.

In Turkey, we are observing an increase in foreign direct investment that has been spurred by the vibrant people, excellent trade networks, strategic location and the start of EU accession talks. Turkey clearly has global aspirations and is an exciting place to do business.

John Chambers, CEO, CISCO

Turkey represents a robust platform for GE Healthcare’s economic expansion in this country, as well as for the entire region. Its highly skilled manpower, geographical location, as well as its existing international partnerships make Turkey an attractive partner of choice, uniquely positioned for the future. Today, from GE Healthcare’s regional headquarters in Istanbul, we cover more than 80 countries and manage 12 direct operations. Our ultimate goal will be to design and develop innovative solutions for Turkey and from Turkey for the rest of the region.

Richard di Benedetto, President & CEO, Middle East, Africa, Central Asia & Russia

We trust in Turkey’s motivated and qualified labour force and strategic location.
Marco Milani, CEO, Indesit Company

We are running 79 countries from Istanbul and are enjoying the dynamism, diversity and availability of a high-quality work force. These attributes and more, we believe, represent big potential for Turkey, in the way of development through the effective use of technology, as well as becoming a software and services provider to other countries, particularly the EU. Microsoft Turkey will be there to support economic development and capacity building.

Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, Senior Vice President of Microsoft Corporation

Turkey is ranked as being the 15^th most attractive FDI destination for 2008 – 2010 (UNCTAD World Investment Prospects Survey)

Source: www.invest.gov.tr

www.cisco.com

www.gehealthcare.com

www.indesitcompany.com

www.microsoft.com

www.unctad.org

Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Boysanoglu said that construction and real estate in Turkey are the first to be affected by economic crises and recover less quickly than other sectors.

The negative impact of the last financial crisis, which began in 2001, to affect property in Turkey lasted at most a year, he said. Housing sales fell resulting in significant drops in housing prices, Boysanoglu stated.

The prices are now at their minimum, he added. The sector cannot sustain itself with these prices, however, after depleting existing stock, prices will rise again by the second half of 2010, he asserted.

However, property in Bodrum has been virtually immune from the negative outfall of the Economic crisis. Protected, as Turkey’s favoured holiday destination amongst the indigenous population and continuing to enjoy an increasingly burgeoning international tourist industry, underpinned by preferential exchange rates, especially for the British, now is certainly an ideal time to be considering property in Bodrum.

Following the success of their 2009 seasons both Thomas Cook and TUI have announced plans to increase their services to Turkey in 2010 over and beyond the increases they both implemented during last year.

easyJet have also announced they are to launch a further five routes to Turkey during 2010.

Already Cumberland Properties have been fielding a significant increase in enquiries for both property rentals in Bodrum and property for sale in Bodrum, fuelled in part by the atrocious weather conditions currently being experienced in Western Europe but also the realisation by many prospective investors, whether they are families looking to secure a good deal on a holiday home or individuals wishing to add value to their international property portfolios, that 2010 represents perfect timing for property investment in Turkey.

Building on the success of 2009 where they sold ten times the properties they did during 2008, Cumberland Properties have already sold two properties from their popular Woodland Regency project and taken a number of reservations for the exquisite Seaview Regency Prestige and we’re not out of the first week of January yet!

For further information visit: Cumberland Properties

Source: ANSAmed