A new era begins for Turkey’s yacht tourism sector

The southern Aegean town of Didim has finally been elevated to the ranks of a serious player in Turkey's tourism sector, ready to compete with its bigger neighbors such as Bodrum and Fethiye.

Always a favorite destination for British vacationers and homebuyers, this Wednesday evening, Didim hosted the official opening ceremony of its brand-new “D-Marin” marina, which is regarded as a huge boost to the general infrastructure development of this resort. Constructed by D-Marin, operating under the Doğuş Group, at a cost of $75 million, it will play host to yachtsmen and women from all over Europe and perhaps even further afield. It has a combined mooring and dry-dock capacity of 1,050 berths.

The director of the management board of Doğuş Group, Ferit Şahenk, expressed his delight and stated that “a dream has come true.” He focused in particular on the 650 new jobs that will be created both within and outside the new marina, which is exactly what Didim needs.

Şahenk communicated to the assembled members of the media that the marina has huge potential and also stated how it will positively impact regional and Turkish tourism development and its diversification. Why invest in marina construction? During a press briefing, it was made clear that Doğuş Group wishes to invest in Turkey first and then will approach foreign markets more proactively.

During its construction, 1.66 million tons of stone, 135,000 cubic meters of concrete and 2,670 tons of iron were used. A key feature is its environmental approach; to mention only one such aspect, 112,000 trees will be planted within or close to the new marina.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications stressed that while Turkey at present has 45 marinas with a combined capacity of 14,000 berths, developments similar to the one in Didim are close to increasing this capacity to 25,500 berths. The ministry explained that the Turkish government is planning to invest some $750 million in the near future to build 22 new marinas. The ultimate aim is to double Turkey's share of Mediterranean yacht tourism from its present 5 percent to 10 percent.

The big moment came when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was accompanied by his wife, Emine, officially inaugurated the marina. He did so after delivering a public address to a packed house. The prime minister said the Turkish economy would leap forward if the country could manage to successfully proceed with its recent democratic move.

Erdoğan recalled investments continuing in the western and northern regions of the country as well as some parts of the south. However, the entrepreneurs do not invest so easily in the East and the Southeast because of lack of stability and confidence in these regions, he noted. “An atmosphere of confidence, stability and peace are among the fundamental necessities for economic progress and affluence,” he asserted.

Erdoğan said the government was aiming to render Turkey among the top 10 largest economies of the world by 2023, mainly by restoring confidence and stability to all regions within its boundaries.

The opening of D-Marin underlines that tourism is a perfect indicator of how a national economic consensus involving the most diverse actors can be formed for the benefit of the country. Local support paired with domestic private investment bolstered by the government is the way forward. Turkish and foreign tourists, and in particular the residents of Didim, will remember this day for years to come.