 In
addition to its historical and natural wealth Antalya is, by virtue of its economic
structure, one of Turkey's mostimportant cities. The region's economy is based on its
agriculture, commerce, industry and tourism.
Eighty percent of the population derives its income from
agriculture. It hasa high yield of wheat, corn, sesame,cotton, bananas, citrus, fruits and
other soil products. By virtue of the richness of its fruit and vegetables, it is Turkey's
breadbasket. Cotton, peanuts, sesame, citrus fruits and bananas as wellas early fruit and
vegetables are, generally speaking, grown in the coastal region, while grain, leguminous
plants,sugarbeet as well as grapes, apples, pears and quince are raised inland.
Recent years have seen a noticeable increase in hothouse
production, and growers have been offered incentivesto take this up. Thus with improved
hot house techniques and increased production good revenues are derived from the sale and
export of early fruit and vegetables. In Antalya can be found 90% of Turkey's hothouses,
while 65% of the country's early vegetables are raised in this region.
The name of Antalya now readily comes to mind when
thinking of tourism, tourism investment, or planning a holiday. Both foreign and Turkish
tourism investors are attracted to the region because of its historical treasures and
natural beauty together with untouched shores and translucent seas. |
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Beginning in 1980. tourism
investment both in the city and along a 640 km shoreline has resulted in thousands of
licensed establish ments having been built by this date. With the opening of these
establishments, resulting from a tourism investment of 900 biliion Turkish Liras, the
whole economic and cultural structure has changed. the learning of foreign languages has
greatly increased, as have the number of boutiques and shops selling touristic items
restaurants car rental services and travel agencies. During
the past few years the many tourist establishments in the Antalya region have served
thousands of local and foreign tourists. These establishments range from very luxurious
hotels and holiday villages to simple but clean and comjortable family-run guest houses
and pensions. When the hotels under construction in south Antalya, Konyalti, Belek,
Colakli and Side have been completed, the region will be even more active. It is planned
that by the year 2000 in Antalya alone the licensed bed capacity will reach 125,000. The
tourism activities in the Antalya region have brought about noticeable economic changes in
the life of the inhabitants, who thus are making an important contribution to the Turkish
economy.
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