In Antalya Free Zone, which plays an important role in the development of the yacht industry in Turkiye, 93 luxury yachts built in 2023 were launched and a production record was broken.
In the region, where 88 companies, 30 of which have foreign capital, operate in different fields from agriculture to electronics, from medical to textiles, 50 companies produce in the yacht sector.
The companies, which receive orders from famous names including business people, athletes and royal family members from different countries, export the luxury yachts they produce, ranging from 10 meters to 90 meters in length, to many countries.
Zeki Gurses, General Manager of Antalya Free Zone Founder and Operator Inc., told the AA correspondent that they had a productive year as a sector.
Stating that Turkiye ranks third in yacht production after Italy and the Netherlands, Gurses noted that the companies in the Antalya Free Zone make a great contribution to this production.
Stating that Antalya Free Zone has become sought after in the fairs held in the field of yachts, Gurses stated that the number and length of yachts produced in the region are increasing every year.
Stating that they achieved record production in the yacht industry in 2023, Gurses said, “The number of yachts we delivered increased to 93. We closed the previous year with 87. The total sales value of 93 yachts is $150 million.”
Stating that they started to provide maintenance and repair services with the dock investment implemented in the region last year, Gurses said, “We can provide service to yachts up to 2 thousand tons here. 22 boats came for maintenance in 2023. 10 of them were completed and sent.”
Demand increased after the Covid-19 outbreak
Zeki Gurses stated that they are very hopeful for this year in the yacht industry and that companies are receiving intense orders.
Stating that there is a serious demand in the yacht sector, especially after the Covid-19 epidemic, and that interest in medium-sized yachts has increased, Gurses stated that orders for production and maintenance and repair continue to increase.
Explaining that extremely high quality production is made in the region, Gurses said, “We sell to England, the USA, the Netherlands, Italy and all over the world. Yachts produced in Antalya are exhibited in important fairs held in various countries of the world. Antalya became a sought-after brand every time we went to a fair. If you produce quality products, customers will find you somehow.”
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz