Hollywood heads for marina
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Hasan Bayrak
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Kasım 22, 2008 00:00
AYDIN - While Didim and other resort towns are staring down the barrel of recession, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon for Didim, the development of a new $52 million marina.
A constant hum of trucks and other heavy equipment have been moving through the town to the marina over the last 12 months, leaving roads pitted and residents pulling their hair out. Others realize, however, it is for the good of the resort, in the long term.
Standing at a location 10 minutes from the resort, it is possible to see the monster marina taking shape. It has already attracted interest from well-known yachters throughout the world.
Although the marina has taken 10 years to come to fruition, many residents believe the hype surrounding the marina will come true, particularly this week when the words "Hollywood" and "Didim" were uttered in the same breath.
Marina Manager Murat Yaprak has revealed a Hollywood "A list" celebrity and yacht owner is heading a high-powered list of yacht owners looking to moor at the marina when it officially opens May 1.
Once open, it will be one of the largest marinas on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Over its 287,000 square meters, there will be 625 sea berths and its dry dock will have a capacity for 600 yachts, with a yacht lift for 100- and 300-ton yachts. It will be able to cope with the multi-million dollar yachts of the rich and famous, of up to 60 meters in length.
Yaprak said a Hollywood actor, who he declined to name, was excited by the opening and had sent his yacht to a Turkish company for a re-fit. The company has confirmed it is looking at using the marina’s dry dock facilities for the fitting.
"The international yachting arena is very excited about the plans for the Didim marina and we are already getting enquiries about the facilities and questions as to when it will open, from people throughout the world," Yaprak said.
"We already have more than 35 yacht owners who want to anchor at Didim next year, such is the anticipation for the site to open."
He anticipated the daily, weekly, monthly and annual costs of a berth at Didim marina would be released in January or February, next year.
"The marina will attract yacht owners from the Middle East and across Europe. But importantly, it will cater for the 'mega-yacht' crowd, the super-rich, whose yachts cannot berth at places like Turgutries, near Bodrum," Yaprak said.
Other amenities at the marine will include a yacht club, heliport, a shopping center, supermarket, yacht equipment shops, a fitness center, sports facilities, restaurants, bars, a ferryboat operator, and customs and port authority facilities. Yaprak said the shopping center will consist of about 30 shops and there will be no problem filling them.
"We have had interest from 100 international companies who are interested in a unit in the shopping center. The shops will all be of an exceptional standard and we are excited about potential developments ahead. The construction of the site is on target and we are preparing to officially open the marina May 1."
At least Didim may have something to smile about while other resorts face low tourist numbers and low revenue as the world credit crunch begins to bite.
Standing at a location 10 minutes from the resort, it is possible to see the monster marina taking shape. It has already attracted interest from well-known yachters throughout the world.
Although the marina has taken 10 years to come to fruition, many residents believe the hype surrounding the marina will come true, particularly this week when the words "Hollywood" and "Didim" were uttered in the same breath.
Marina Manager Murat Yaprak has revealed a Hollywood "A list" celebrity and yacht owner is heading a high-powered list of yacht owners looking to moor at the marina when it officially opens May 1.
Once open, it will be one of the largest marinas on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Over its 287,000 square meters, there will be 625 sea berths and its dry dock will have a capacity for 600 yachts, with a yacht lift for 100- and 300-ton yachts. It will be able to cope with the multi-million dollar yachts of the rich and famous, of up to 60 meters in length.
Yaprak said a Hollywood actor, who he declined to name, was excited by the opening and had sent his yacht to a Turkish company for a re-fit. The company has confirmed it is looking at using the marina’s dry dock facilities for the fitting.
"The international yachting arena is very excited about the plans for the Didim marina and we are already getting enquiries about the facilities and questions as to when it will open, from people throughout the world," Yaprak said.
"We already have more than 35 yacht owners who want to anchor at Didim next year, such is the anticipation for the site to open."
He anticipated the daily, weekly, monthly and annual costs of a berth at Didim marina would be released in January or February, next year.
"The marina will attract yacht owners from the Middle East and across Europe. But importantly, it will cater for the 'mega-yacht' crowd, the super-rich, whose yachts cannot berth at places like Turgutries, near Bodrum," Yaprak said.
Other amenities at the marine will include a yacht club, heliport, a shopping center, supermarket, yacht equipment shops, a fitness center, sports facilities, restaurants, bars, a ferryboat operator, and customs and port authority facilities. Yaprak said the shopping center will consist of about 30 shops and there will be no problem filling them.
"We have had interest from 100 international companies who are interested in a unit in the shopping center. The shops will all be of an exceptional standard and we are excited about potential developments ahead. The construction of the site is on target and we are preparing to officially open the marina May 1."
At least Didim may have something to smile about while other resorts face low tourist numbers and low revenue as the world credit crunch begins to bite.