Legend has it that when God created the earth he sent an angel with the bag of beauty to scatter little by little over the land. Accidentally, the legend goes, the angel dropped the bag with all the beauty in it over the city of Sapanca... the no-longer hidden jewel of the Sakarya Province, with serious plans to become the Halal tourism capital of Turkey.
Located in Sakarya province, which lies on the coast of Black Sea as one of the 81 provinces that make up Turkey, Sapanca is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Asian side of Turkey (Anatolia) and which has recently turned into one of the most sought places to visit in Turkey, especially families, thanks to its stunning natural environment, picturesque views, authentic atmosphere, Halal-friendly facilities, hospitable people and good food. The list goes on and on. Not only is Sapanca unique in the plethora of natural beauties which it generously offers, but the city is also special in many different ways. Sapanca and the surrounding areas are suitable for visiting all the year round though it is especially popular during the summer months. A favorite among Turkey tourism insiders is visiting the Sapanca Kirkpinar Open Air Theatre which is organized by Sapanca Municipality. Since 2007, the Theatre is launched every year beginning in the last days of June and ending in the first week of September. In the same theater, both children and adults can enjoy plays, watch international dancing groups and movie shows, which should create unforgettable experience tor all art lovers.
Lake Sapanca
Founded in the southern area of the world famous and surrounded by green trees as many as the eye can see, Sapanca encompasses numerous sites of interest. The world famous Lake Sapanca, where one can enjoy the warm summer days, flowery springs and snow clad winter days, is one of the most popular sites of the region and has very similar views to Lake Geneva. The area surrounding the freshwater lake is attractive and there is plenty of wildlife as well as forest areas. Visitors can stop by beautiful cafes, tea gardens and restaurants positioned around the lake and enjoy the view or take a round tour via bike.
Sapanca which has become one of the most popular places to visit and invest especially by GCC nationals and Arabs in general especially after the implementation of the law relating to the sale of real estate to foreigners, back in 2008. The number of neighborhoods settled wholly by Arabs in the city is rapidly increasing.
As a location offering beautiful surroundings, coupled with great facilities and many activities, Sapanca is now attracting interest from second home buyers and investors. Mayor of Sapanca, Dr. Aydin Yilmazer, says that Arab investors are on the rise in Sapanca and expects a big increase in the number of local and foreign tourists in the next 12 months. He adds that the city has its arms wide open for international investors, especially in real estate, Halal tourism and education sectors. He also emphasized that Sapanca is well-poised to be the Islamic tourism capital of Turkey, with plans to open an Islamic economy colleage in the Sakarya University which overlooks Lake Sapanca.
He adds: "Sapanca represents tremendous potential with numerous investment opportunities for foreign investors. The city offers a peaceful, conservative and calm retreat with beautiful lake scene with little proximity to Istanbul where people may take shelter when they are bored in Istanbul. Nowadays the tourism sector is Sapanca is flourishing, therefore in the eyes of the investors it is a favorable place for a number of reasons including ability to fully own real estate, its proximity to Istanbul and other major cities and investment-friendly environment." He said nearly 90 percent of local tourists to Sapanca were from Istanbul, Kocaeli and Bursa who come to the city to escape the searing heat and noise pollution in the nearby metropolis of Istanbul, and that foreign tourists mostly came from Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. Dr. Yilmazer says that with an improved and investor-friendly business environment, Sapanca has achieved considerable success in both domestic and foreign investments over the decade, and not only raised the bar a notch, but is now also on track to realize its real and deserved potential; to be home to foreign investment that will contribute to new jobs, new technology and new visions. Dr, Yilmazer said the construction of an $85 million,7-star hotel in Sapanca by Arab investors, will create added-value for the Sakarya province. He adds that the hotel, which is owned by Merosa International Investment Consultancy Company is scheduled to finish in 2018, and will include 385 rooms and a thousand beds and is expected to employ 600 people. Erhan Tanta, CEO of TANTA Real Estate Consultants emphasizes that that Sapanca is unique in the sense that its municipality works on the enhancement of real estate projects, infrastructure and well-being within the context of environmental protection and sustainability. He adds: "One of the biggest assets, which we pride ourselves upon here in Sapanca, is the richness and abundance of natural environment and biodiversity. We have one of the lowest carbon emissions levels in the world, and we work hard to maintain the balance between economic development and our environment."
There are many activities to keep holidaymakers busy in Sapanca, such as safari trips, trekking, fishing, and water sports.
Sapanca also offers a variety of thermal springs and comfortable hotels for the convenience of tourist who want to spend a peaceful and rejuvenating holiday. Chief among these hotels is the NG Sapanca Wellness & Convention which is built in the middle of big stunning gardens with plenty of family activities and lots of good food.
One of the most visited places in the region also is K?rkp?nar. The site of numerous plant species and pristine nature, K?rp?nar has numerous locations worth the visit. Another must-see place is Ma?ukiye. You can take strolls and enjoy the scenic view of this charming village popular for its restaurants serving delicious trout fish meals.
Sapanca is approximately an hour away only from Sabiha G?kçen International Airport (SAW) in Istanbul by car, and is easy to access via a variety of transportation facilities, including a fast train that also connects Ankara to Istanbul.
© Business Islamica 2015
