Uluda? in Turkey will see dramatic improvements in the next few years will see it become a rival to resorts Like Davos in Switzerland the Turkish government hope.
Uluda? is reported to have seen little new investment in 50 years.
The resort is the best known of the dozen or so ski areas in Turkey but has suffered from a lack of investment and modernisation in recent decades while some other ski areas in the country have installed modern lifts and snowmaking.
Uluda? been hoping to see improvements for more than eight years, but has been hampered by bureaucracy despite Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (the AK Party), making redevelopment of the resort a top priority since coming to power in 2002.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdo?an visited Uluda? in July and promised the delays in the planned $40m of development were coming to an end – so long as no legal actions are launched by objectors.
Initial work has seen the beginning of ‘beautification’ of the resort, including the demolition of a public lodge owned by the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, one of several buildings deemed too ugly for the resort’s future. A new conference centre and shopping mall are to be added.
The aged cable car is scheduled to be replaced by a new lift which much increased capacity (18,000 skiers per day) and ascending up to Uluda?’s highest point, Sar?alan.
On the mountain, there are plans to build what the resort believes will be Europe’s longest ski run in Uluda?’s Alaçam region. In contrast to the present situation, there will be absolutely no other buildings or structures allowed on or around the ski runs.
The work was due to be completed last year but conflicts between government ministries prevented this, and they are now aimed for completion in 2010.
“This project was prepared taking its lead from the prime minister. Our prime minister had a dream regarding Uluda?, and we have been struggling for the past five years to realize this dream. We have met many bureaucratic barriers along the way, but the struggle came to an end during the prime minister’s visit to the region along with Environmental and Forestry Minister Ero?lu and Culture and Tourism Minister Ertu?rul Günay in July. In preparing this project, we have visited both Davos and Zermatt. We have studied other examples of mountain resorts in the world. We will turn this great dream into a reality.” Regional State Minister Faruk Çelik said.
“It was our prime minister who gave us the order to turn Uluda? into a Davos. We are working to see Uluda? turned into one of the world’s most beautiful centres of tourism. We want to build a series of perfect facilities in Uluda?. We have held contests that focus both on aesthetics and the importance of nature in deciding which plans to use. We have now completed our plans. We will completely redesign Uluda? in a two-stage project. And Uluda? will, in the end, have Europe’s longest ski run.” Mr Celik added.