Cheap and easy to reach, Kusadasi teems with Irish tourists

Up to 4,000 Irish people can be found in the Turkish resort of Kusadasi at any one time in the summer season.

Charter flights from Ireland to the nearby airport at Izmir began almost 20 years ago and business, say the travel companies, has never been better.

Since 2002, when the Turkish government lifted a ban on foreigners purchasing property, holidaymakers have been joined by throngs of would-be property buyers seeking an affordable place in the sun. Up to 30 Irish-owned companies are currently selling Turkish properties in the Irish market.

The Irish are the dominant nationality among tourists to the town, which was an established port before the tourism boom hit Turkey, although this year the British have also started arriving in large numbers.

There are a number of Irish-owned businesses in the town, among them bars and restaurants, as well as a growing community of permanent Irish residents, including retirees and Irish people who have married Turkish nationals.

"It's different but not too different," says Niamh Hayes of Budget Travel, when asked to explain the attraction of Kusadasi for Irish visitors. "I think it's the entire cultural experience that appeals, from the food to the sights.

"The other main attractions are value for money and the people, who are hugely hospitable. It's not like your usual Mediterranean destination, and it's much cheaper."

At least seven tour operators fly direct from Ireland to Turkey in the summer months, usually from May to mid-September. "Kusadasi is seen as a very lively centre, with plenty of bars and entertainment. It appeals more to younger holidaymakers than, say, Bodrum," says Ms Hayes.

"There's so much to see, you could spend a lifetime visiting something different every day," says another Irish property agent, who did not wish to be identified for fear that he could be interpreted as trying to profit from the weekend's bombing.

While most people come for a sun and sand holiday, Kusadasi lies close to many cultural attractions, he says, notably the historic site of Ephesus, 10km away. It also boasts one of the deepest seaports in the Aegean, which attracts large cruise liners.

Yesterday it was 31 degrees and sunny in Kusadasi, which claims to enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year.

"Winters are short and mild, and it hardly ever snows," the agent says.

Property prices are cheap by Irish standards, with two-bed apartments available for €60,000, three-beds for €70,000 and villas for €90,000.

While the bombing will affect the number of Irish visiting Turkey, it won't be the first time that conflict has impacted on the country's tourism prospects. Six years ago, the unrest and Nato bombing in Serbia and Kosovo led to a drastic fall-off in demand for Turkish holidays.