Football Tourism in Antalya

Antalya is one of the world's most visited cities. And It is the world's fourth most visited city by number of international arrivals in 2012. Antalya offers superb beach resort facilities and long stretches of golden sands, with a fine selection of significant historical sites. The city is loved by many for its palm lined streets, charming marina, delicious restaurants, excellent shopping, cosmopolitan nightlife and lots of historical attractions. Fantastic for families, couples and even the more experienced traveler, Antalya’s mix of traditional, cosmopolitan and family friendly activities will ensure everyone will enjoy a holiday in Antalya!

So, what is the contribution of football to tourism in Antalya ?

Football market continues to grow amid economic crisis. Football still remains the most sponsored sport in terms of the sums of money paid out. The figures suggest that it earned $2714m in 2011, followed by the Olympics at $1275m. This means that money revolves around football.

Every year approximately 1200 football clubs around the world come to Antalya for midseason training camps, and a thousand football clubs this year is expected to come to camp in Antalya. The city hosts many international sports competitions due to its longer lasting good weather condition. 

Until the second period of Turkish Super League begin on January 20, 2013, Antalya is preparing to host Turkish football clubs. 600 of these teams will come to Antalya's tourism centers such as Belek, Kundu, Kemer, Tekirova, Kemer, Alanya, Manavgat, and Side.

Especially, Galatasaray, Besiktas, Fenerbahce, and Trabzonspor prefer to come to Antalya for midseason training camps each year. The most of the Turkish football clubs prefer Antalya. 

In addition to this, German, Belgian, Dutch, Russian and Ukrainian football teams come to Antalya every year. 

There are also teams from Japan, China, South Korea, Kenya and Brazil, which have already made their reservations at hotels in the city. 

The Six football clubs of the Netherlands came to Belek, Antalya: AZ Alkmaar, Willem II, Heracles, PEC Zwolle, VVV Venlo, RKC Waalwijk.

Many German football teams came to Antalya: Stuttgart, Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg, Greuther Fürth, Augsburg, Hertha Berlin, Eintracht Braunschweig, Kaiserslautern, Energie Cottbus, VFR Aalen, 1860 München, FSV Frankfurt, FC İngolstadt, Köln, Erzgebirge Aue, SC Paderborn, FC St. Pauli, MSV Duisburg, VFL Bochum, Dynamo Dresden, SV Sandhausen, Jahn Regensburg.

Within the scope of TutturCup Tournament, Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen, Besiktas and Trabzonspor will camp in Antalya Mardan Palace Hotel.

There are approximately 300 grass football pitches in Antalya. Teams rent these football fields when they come to Antalya.

This year, Antalya aims to income of 40 million Euros from football tourism.