Turkey Visit
Having just got back from a visit to Turkey I have to say I am very impressed with what they are doing there in terms of tourism. I have heard that Turkey now receives more UK visitors than Spain and I can see why… Even though it was during the winter it was still a compelling place. My first surprise was on the fantastic drive from Milas-Bodrum airport to Altinkum, where I passed a fantastic lake and mountains – which reminded me of Scotland!… This wasn’t what I expected of Turkey at all. Then you pass the Temple of Apollo and come to the beach resort of Altinkum, much larger and more developed than I had expected. The bay of Akbuk is stunning and no brochure can do its tranquility justice, I just cannot wait to go back in the summer!
On the investment front I met the governor of Didim and the mayor of Akbuk to find out what they had planned in terms of commercial and touristic investment and it was great to hear that they appreciate (without my prompting) that it is not just about building apartments and hotels. They grasp the concept of growing their towns into tourist hubs whilst maintaining the essence of peace and natural beauty. Some great ideas were put forward in terms of what they want to do and I am staying in touch with them personally to see how it pans out….