Turkey eyes greater share in world yatching tourism

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the D-Marin, a marina constructed by Dogus Holding in Didim town of the Aegean resort city of Aydin yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Turkish economy was making a rapid recovery from the global economic crisis, adding that the end of the crisis was in sight. Stating that they aimed to make Turkey one of the 10 biggest economies of the world by 2023 by preserving the atmosphere of stability and confidence in the country, Erdogan said that Turkey's economy would leap forward, when the government's democratic initiative for the southeastern Anatolia is realized. The government recently announced that it would soon introduce a package of democratic measures to solve the country's longstanding so-called Kurdish or southeastern Anatolia issue by expanding the democratic and cultural rights of citizens with the Kurdish origin. Interior Minister Besir Atalay, who is also government coordinator for the democratic initiative, has been holding talks with political parties and non-governmental organizations to reach a comprehensive consensus before details of the planned initiative are announced by Erdogan by the end of this year. As part of these talks, Atalay met with Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug yesterday. Calling the continuity of the atmosphere of confidence, stability, tranquility and peace as vital to the nation's economic well-being, Erdogan said, "Investments have been continuing in western and northern regions of the country and some parts of the south. However, unfortunately, the entrepreneurs can not invest in the east and the southeast because of lack of stability and confidence there." Erdogan also said that a new arrangement would be introduced soon for the Turkish ships carrying foreign flags. As part of the ceremony, Dogus Holding Board Chairman Ferit Sahenk presented Premier Erdogan a plaque. The new marina is expected to further improve the rising yachting tourism in Turkey in recent years. Turkey earns $3.5 billion from yachting tourism annually, 16 percent of the total tourism income. This figure is predicted to hit one-third of the overall tourism revenue within 5 years.