Marina tourism puts winds in turkey's investment sails

Turkey's growing marine tourism sector is expected to boost interest in property in coastal resorts in 2014, thanks to a raft of world-class marinas, many of them less than a year or two old, attracting an increasing number of lifestyle property investors, said Turkish property agency Spot Blue International Property in February.

Resorts with world-class marinas along Turkey's pretty Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines have become property hot spots not only for foreign investors, but also members of Turkey's rising affluent middle class, many of whom are based in Istanbul.

“Turkey's upped its game in maritime tourism in recent years and we're beginning to reap the rewards," comments Julian Walker, director at Spot Blue International Property. "That said, there's more to come, as the Government has a target number of berths to hit before 2023. Areas such as Bodrum and Göcek have become highly fashionable hang-outs for the world's sailing jet set, who attract chic restaurants and boutique shopping, as well as higher property prices. Istanbul's hosting of the World Marine Conference in June this year will raise awareness of Turkey's world-class marinas even more.”