SimplyAbuDhabi X

2 3 7 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I prominent journalist from NewYork due to arrive, the evening ahead was set to be a good one. When it is time for our appointment with Mr. Aşci, a well-known Turkish entrepreneur who made his fortune in the textile industry, he is the epitome of hospitality. Sitting down on a balcony overlooking the glistening turquoise water, he told us over lunch about his motivations and beliefs for the area. “Turkey is a rising star in its region's tourism industry. The country has hosted many civilizations throughout history, constituting an uncountable number of archaeological sites that can be visited, and it also has a wealth of natural resources and untouched coves along its coasts, as well as beautiful forests just waiting to be discovered. These all play an important role in this rise.” With regard to the potential visitors to his on-going project, Aşci adds, “Due to reasons such as the well-known genuine Turkish hospitality, the rich Turkish cuisine and the convenient access as a result of its central location between the continents, Turkey attracts high-end travellers from all over the world. We believe that our country will rise to the top of the world’s best tourism destinations lists with new groundbreaking and branded investments.” This prospective increase in both holidaymakers and foreign residents has already urged the Turkish Minister for Urban Planning and Environment to adjust the residence permit for foreign homeowners in Turkey, which will now be changed to one year instead of three months. As a result of this, it is expected that in 2013, the number of properties sold to foreigners will double. If you are fortunate to have the funds, we can heartily recommend the Mandarin Oriental Residences at Paradise Bay – they really are what you’d hope them to be – a slice of paradise in the sun.