ISTANBUL - The Altınkum Didim Yacht Marina in Turkey has been in the pipeline for an absolute age, but the waiting is finally over. The 33.6 million pound marina will open next month, potentially giving a huge boost to property in the Altinkum area, according to an article by Catherine Deshayes posted in TheMoveChannel.com, the property search portal.

The luxury marina will cover more than 287,000 square meters of land between Third Beach and Parlementerler Sitesi, to the west of Altınkum and is set to change the face of the Turkish coastline at Didim, the article said.

The largest marina in the southern Aegean, the Didim D-Marina will include a heliport, customs, its own pier and high-end shopping center, not to mention space to moor more than 1,000 yachts, blowing Bodrum's 450-berth site out of the water.

The marina boasts berths for 623 yachts afloat and space for 600 yachts ashore, plus yacht lifts for 300 and 100-ton boats.

Restaurants and bars will be opened all around the marina, which is to be built by Doğuş Holding, one of the leading construction companies in Turkey. They will also retain a 25-year operating lease.

Ferry links to Greek islands

The marina will also have ferry links to the Greek islands of Kalimnos, Kos and Leros, as well a customs post, port authority facilities and passport control.

Didim D-Marina signifies a new lease of life for the already buoyant Didim region, as it will open up the area to a whole new tourism market. Local property developers are expecting an influx of international investors following the marina's launch. While prices in the area are currently low, it is thought that the new project will have a dramatic effect on them, despite the current global crisis.

More than 5,000 homes have already been bought in the Aydın district, under which Didim and Altınkum fall, according to the Turkish Land Registry.

Overall, German residents show the greatest interest in real estate in Turkey but they are closely followed by British and Greek people.

A spokesman for Doğuş Holding said: "Property in the Didim area, close to the marina is currently very affordable. A simple two bedroom apartment can be purchased for 30,000 to 45,000 pounds but the growth trend in property prices means that you should expect to double your investment within the first five years, perhaps even sooner. This area will provide serious long term gains in property values for it is a perfect location for investors. There has never been a better time to invest in Didim property."

Alongside the new marina, there are also plans to construct a golf course nearby. The course, which will be completed in 2013, has already had its plans approved by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.