After ten years of speculation the city of Alanya in southern Turkey has been given the go ahead for its own international airport, further opening up the area to Turkish property buyers, writes Jo-ann Hodgson.

The airport at Gazipasa, which was completed in 1999, will be further developed by Turkey's leading airport contractor and operator TAV Airports Holding, which is responsible for the operation and management of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir International airports in Turkey. Thirty-three kilometres from Alanya city centre, the airport will be fully operational for use by tourists and, of course, Turkish property buyers and owners by mid 2008. 

Chief Executive Officer of TAV Airports Holding, Dr. Sener, recently stated that the company "aimed to maximise the passenger capacity of Gazipasa airport with a new investment and to make it an international airport serving Alanya and the surrounding region by extending the runway of the airport."

Those currently visiting Alanya, a city that dates back more than 3,000 years, have to fly to Antalya international airport, a 90-minute car journey from the city; the new airport will cut post-flight travel time to 20 to 30 minutes.

Sean Gillic, Managing Director of Turkish Property Invest (TPI), said: "This is exceptional news for Alanya and for all those who have investments or who intend to invest in the Alanya property market. Capital appreciation for Alanya City over the past five years has averaged 13 to 15 per cent per annum but such an injection of people – be it those wishing to rent property or potential purchasers – is likely to fuel the market and enhance the investment potential of the area."

Favoured by the Seljuk Turks as a seaside resort some 800 years ago, today's tourists are attracted by Alanya's mild climate, long stretches of sandy beach, warm waters and long history. Having grown significantly in the past decade, the area's population almost doubles during the summer tourist season and looks likely to increase further when the airport opens.

For those interested in purchasing property in Alanya, TPI recently launched the Obasaray 4 development, consisting of 70 two-bedroom apartments and 15 four-bedroom duplexes, in the investment area of Oba.

Spot Blue also has property for sale in the area and is currently marketing a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with access to a communal pool and garden and within walking distance of the sea, priced at £36,060.

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Article first published 14 September 2007