TURKEY: Archaeological Discovery In Turkey To Boost Tourism

Turkey has been investing heavily in its tourist sector in recent years to great success and much of its capital has been spent in uncovering the country’s rich history which draws tourists like a magnet from all over the world.

Among the many areas being excavated to uncover Turkey’s ancient and fascinating history is the town of Anazarbus, formerly an ancient Cilician city situated in modern-day Antalya, and a popular area for tourism and international property investment. Archaeological digs have been underway since mid-2014 and the discovery of a gladiatorial ring, buried underground for centuries, has just been announced.

With a $335,000 grant from Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism also intend to excavate a nearby amphitheatre in the 4 million square meter city.

Beneath the amphitheatre are what are believed to be the arches and chambers where wild animals, including lions and tigers, waited to be brought into the stadium to fight the gladiators, according to Çukurova University archaeologist Fatih Gülşen, who is in charge of the project.

Anazarbus is on the outskirts of present-day Dilekkaya in the Kozan district of Adana Province, where the ruins are fast-becoming a major tourist attraction. The city had the only known two-lane road in the ancient world, stretching 2,700 metres and lined with monumental columns, which archaeologists are now restoring.

Now known as Antalya, the city is the hub of the Turkish Mediterranean and has a diverse landscape and dynamic economy, making it an investment hotspot for savvy property buyers. Antalya’s buoyant property market has transformed the region into one of the most exciting destinations for investment capital on the Turkish Riviera and with property prices remaining at significantly discounted levels from their peak in 2007, there are plenty of bargains to be found.

Antalya’s rapid economic growth has seen the city’s population double in ten years to more than a million in 2013 and property investors are increasingly looking for BTL rental opportunities in the local private rental market, achieving significant yields from occupying Turkish nationals in its up- and-coming suburbs. Antalya’s galvanised economy and subsequent positive growth throughout the region has bolstered real estate values together with the area’s international profile and there has been a flurry of investor interest in particular from buyers in the Middle East in 2015.

Turkey is a country where East meets West, giving it a diverse cultural history that has enormous international appeal. It’s wealth of ancient monuments and historical sites are a significant pull for tourists from all ethnicities and cultures and, for that reason, the country’s property markets are becoming much more active in terms of transaction volume which ultimately is pushing up prices in Turkey’s popular investment destinations, like Antalya.

The whole region is a goldmine of rental potential with annual yields reaching as high as 8% for exceptional sea view and exclusive Antalya properties and homes in Antalya Konyaalti and Lara Beach areas can be let out throughout the year for a steady annual income. Average property prices have increased by more than a staggering 100% over the past 10 years, making the area exceptionally desirable to property investors from all over the world.