Football Tourism in Antalya and Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup 2014

Saluez,

To quench our hunger to football and more importantly a special tournament has started in Akdeniz University Stadium. The Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup 2014.

Celtic vs. Trabzonspor.

This season, Celtic is in the Champions League, and Trabzonspor is in the Europa League. Celtic was unlucky, because AC Milan and Barcelona were in the same group with Celtic in the Champions League So, Celtic completed the group at the last place.

Interestingly, Ajax was in the same group and finished third, now it is another foreign club in the Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup 2014.

Our expectation beautiful football and plenty of goals from the match between Trabzonspor and Celtic in Antalya. Celtic 3-1 in favor of the results , we think we're watching football as an enjoyable match.

However, this type of tournaments, we, as Antalians know that these matches are not ordinary matches.

It is extremely beneficial in terms of promotion of Turkey and Antalya with these tournaments.

Because of these, we want bigger and modern stadium in Antalya

Akdeniz university Stadium's capacity is around 7 thousand, but we hope that these tournaments will be played when the constrution of the 33 thousand people capacity new stadium finished in Antalya. 

You can say that just two foreign team have played match, and this is not a real promotion of Antalya, but this is a real promotion. From the simplest example I'll give the first match of the tournament .

Trabzonspor vs Celtic:

In Trabzonspor's squad there are 12 players fromTurkey, 2 from Ivory Coast, 1 from Australia, 1 from Poland, and 1 from Portugal.

Let's look at the Celtic team: There are only two Scots in the first 11. In the 20-man squad, 6 players from Scotland, 2 from the Netherlands, 2 from Wales, 1 from Poland, 1 from Nigeria, 1 from Honduras, 1 from Israel, 1 from Finland, 1 from Portugal, 1 from Italy, 1 from Sweden, 1 from the UK and Ireland.

So if we leave aside the Scottish players, Celtic staff from 12 different countries in 14.

In other words, players from Europe, Africa, Australia, America and Asia played in Antalya last night. If there is football in Antarctica, I'm sure there would have been a footballer from Antarctica last night in Antalya.

From 5 continents, 15 countries, 37 football players played last night in Antalya So, this is a real promotion of Antalya. This is football tourism. 

Over 1500 clubs around the world came to Antalya for Midseason training camps.

Each football player will remember Antalya when they go back their home.

So, some people do not try to prevent sports investments in Antalya.

They should not prevent to constrution of the new stadium in Antalya which has 33 thousand people capacity.

They should not forget that we lost to be host city for the World Basketball Championship when they prevent to construction of new sports center..

                                                                                 

                                                                                    Murat Özgen

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Antalya is the Center of Midseason Training Camps of the European Football Clubs

Antalya is one of the world's most visited cities. And It is the world's one of the most visited city by number of international arrivals. 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!

Antalya: Preferred by Professional Football Teams

As every year, Antalya will be the Center of Midseason Training Camps of the European Football Clubs. This year 1300 football clubs will come to Antalya for the midseason training camps and tournaments.

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, 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, Ukrainian, Azerbaijani, and Kazakh 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. 

Within the scope of Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup Tournament, Ajax, Celtic, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor will camp in Antalya.

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

Last year, Antalya earned 40 million Euros from football tourism. This year Antalya aims to income 50 million Euros from football tourism.

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