Turkish Riviera: resorts, history and the evolving power of water sports

Marmaris and Bodrum were especially popular destinations among Israelis at the beginning of the millennium.

Now that the disconnection and tensions in the diplomatic arena are slowly dissipating and prices are more favorable than ever, they are back there and in a big way.

And no, it's not just because of all-inclusive hotels

Jonathan Elijah

29/06/2022

Wednesday, 29 June 2022, 08:19

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In the video: Bennett thanks the security forces in Israel and Turkey for thwarting harm to Israelis (Photo: Itai Beit On / GPO, Sound: Ben Peretz / GPO)

This is supposed to be the summer that symbolizes the return of Israelis to Turkey.

After years of disengagement and tension in the form of Iranian terrorist threats in recent weeks, it seems that at least in the diplomatic arena the conditions for Israelis to return to Turkey are maturing: the level of travel warning to Istanbul, which has been level 4 For terrorist attacks.

Travel agencies reported this week that Israelis' demand for a vacation in Antalya has returned, with declining alert levels, and tens of thousands of Israelis who have already purchased packages and plane tickets and planned to re-occupy the queues at the club's buffet at the country's tourist hotspots may change the balance.

The expansion of diplomatic cooperation should also lead to Israeli airlines being able to fly back to Turkey, which could turn the wheel back and make it a favorite again for the local tourist.

After all, the winning formula that led to an Israeli influx of Turkish resort towns every year in the first decade of the millennium, before Erdogan came to power, takes on a new meaning in 2022: the Turkish lira is at an unprecedented low, making prices more attractive than ever;

The cultural and culinary launch points are still there;

Geographical proximity is still crucial;

And it turns out that even the merchants in the markets still welcome the Israeli tourist who is in cheers for life Revivo (or "Revivo" - as he is known in the local dialect).

Our trip, which took place more than a month ago in the country, did not include the beloved Antalya, but passed through two other popular destinations in western Turkey, Marmaris and Bodrum, where we came to watch the country's 3rd presidential yacht race.

Apart from the beaches, resorts and rich history that Turkey has to offer, it has in recent years also branded itself as a hub of sports tourism.

The race was attended by about 400 athletes from 14 different countries and was one of the major races in Europe in the past year, well illustrated this.

And the hostel - a sub-district located in southwestern Turkey and also known as the "Turkish Riviera" - makes the event doubly impressive.

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Impressive hostel for an impressive event.

Presidential Yacht Race (Photo: Official Website, courtesy of the Turkish Government Tourism Bureau)

Marmaris: Breathtaking views, rich history, a paradise for families

A short flight to Istanbul and an even shorter domestic flight, brings us to the airport in the city of Derman, a 45-minute drive from the first destination of the trip, Marmaris.

The picturesque and sleepy towns overlooking the road are light years away from the bustling Marmaris, which is a tourist attraction that attracts over a million and a half tourists each year.

It is located at the connection point between the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, is considered one of the oldest cities in the world, and combines a rich history dating back to 3,400 BC, with an up-to-date scene of clubs, a vibrant nightlife and a variety of water sports activities.

All along the large and pleasant marina are studded with luxury hotels, most of them in the all-inclusive category, which is so beloved by Israelis.

In the past, Marmaris was an attraction for many Israelis, not least thanks to the many casinos that popped up on every corner (since then they have disappeared, after the Turkish parliament made the casinos illegal).

Today it is especially popular with tourists from the UK and Russia - and is still considered a family paradise.

The excellent hotels offer reasonable prices, high service, rich buffets and often also include water attractions that will keep the kids busy while you lie down and sunbathe by the pool.

Marmaris is also the starting point of the race, which is being held for the third year and has become an international celebration this year.

Participants from Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belarus, Lithuania, the UK and of course Turkey boarded 40 yachts and started the competition.

After the boats slowly disappeared from the horizon, we got a chance to feel a little of the city's rich history.

A brief tour of Marmaris Castle exposes us to a spectacular view, illustrating why the city was considered an important strategic point in the days of Ottoman rule.

Today the castle serves as a museum of marine archeology.

Impressive historical richness.

Marmaris Castle (Photo: Jonathan Eliyahu)

Just lie down.

The beach in Marmaris (Photo: Jonathan Eliyahu)

Bodrum: The hot destination of the world's rich

A three-hour drive from Marmaris is Bodrum - the city that has become a favorite hangout for Turkey's rich, as well as some of the world's rich.

Along with the familiar clubs that offer classic back-to-back vacations, the impressive resort town offers the average tourist many options, enticing him to step out of the hotel key.

Alongside a mooring of local wooden ships where you can sail cheaply between the picturesque towns nestled in the bays, there is also an international mooring of yachts to which capital tycoons from around the world flock.

Located on the south coast of the peninsula, Yalikback Marina has hosted Bill Gates' ostentatious birthday party for the past year, and often hosts Jeff Bezos.

Roman Abramovich's two magnificent yachts are regularly moored there, as are the yachts of many oligarchs.

In the city's main marina you can find a selection of restaurants, cafes and bars.

Compared to Marmaris, everything here is bigger, more powerful and more prestigious.

In the area there are seven main bays where hotels and guest rooms, and you can visit and lie down every day in a different bay.

St. Peter's Castle is the most prominent historical site in the city.

It was built in the early 15th century by the Crusaders, perched on a rocky cliff overlooking the harbor and now serves as a museum of underwater archeology where fascinating finds can be found, including the remains of an ancient ship that was mined from the shore near the city almost in its entirety.

The city’s bazaar is an indoor market located behind the fort.

This is not a classic market with basts, but stores with quite quality products where you can find bargains, especially in the field of clothing.

The view from the castle in Bodrum (Photo: Yehonatan Eliyahu)

A ship towed from the sea at the Underwater Archaeological Museum in Bodrum (Photo: Jonathan Eliyahu)

"This paradise will become a hope for world peace"

Despite a strong wind and not easy conditions, the race came to an end when the big winner was the Turkish "Arjalik" team, which reached the finish point in Bodrum in 21 hours and 25 minutes.

The team captain is Denise Fiji, who was a member of Turkey's windsurfing team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

"The wind got stronger and changed throughout the race, and we had to work hard. We did not have a chance to rest for even one moment," said Fiji, who is proud to make Turkey a "power", he said, in the field of water sports.

"It is gratifying to see athletes from all over the world who come to this beautiful area and enjoy everything that Turkey has to offer. We Israelis are also very happy to host you here."

At the end of the race, which takes place in the ancient amphitheater of Bodrum (another historic landmark in the city, located on the shoreline), we meet Nabin Chirgan, the proud captain of the "Zuzu Sailing" team, the only team in the race made up of an overwhelming majority of women.

Chirgan and her friends finished the race in a respectable third place, which for them conveys a message of female empowerment.

"It was very important for us to take part in the race and show the whole world that Turkey also has strong women," she says with a smile.

The president of the local yacht club, Akram Yamelia Oglo, also conveyed messages of openness and progress, which seemed to be aimed specifically at Israeli tourists.

"We came to this beautiful area to compete in sailing, but for us it is a bigger and more significant thing. We want this paradise to be a hope for peace, a voice of world peace. We invite everyone to come here and enjoy."

A message of peace and progress.

Presidential race (Photo: Official website, courtesy of the Turkish Government Tourism Bureau)

The winning team in the race (Photo: Jonathan Eliyahu)

Everyone benefits?

Turkey is indeed longing for the return of Israeli tourists, mainly due to the difficult economic situation in the country.

The corona almost paralyzed the local tourism industry for too long, and the ensuing Russo-Ukrainian war inflicted enormous damage.

However, what brings tourists back to Turkey slowly is mostly the convenient exchange rate.

The Turkish lira lost almost half a campaign last year, and is at an unprecedented low.

Today, one shekel will provide you with 5.1 Turkish pounds.

Just for comparison, a year ago, in February 2021, the shekel was worth 2.1 Turkish lira.

Many tourists take advantage of the situation, and enjoy the favorable prices to maximize the vacation experience.

Israelis also enjoy the opportunity: since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 1,200 flights from Turkey to Israel, an average of 18 flights a day.

Since the beginning of the year, more than half a million passengers have flown from Israel to Turkey (some of them with connections to further destinations).

Past experience shows that despite the travel warning and the risks involved in a flight to Turkey, Israelis will probably not resist the temptation and arrive in droves.

Right now, it's just lucrative enough.

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