Alanya Says Residence Permit Restrictions Hurt Economy
🇹🇷 Alanya Officials Speak Openly About Massive Losses Caused by Residence Permit Restrictions
Authorities and business representatives in Alanya have openly spoken for the first time about the serious economic damage caused by restrictions on foreigners living in Turkey.
The statement was made by :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}, who said the restrictions have affected not only the real estate sector, but the entire local economy.
“We are on the verge of solving the problem,” Erdem stated, hinting that changes to the residence permit system may happen in the near future.
📉 Number of Foreign Residents Has Dropped by Half
According to Erdem, before the restrictions were introduced, around 60,000 foreigners lived in Alanya with residence permits.
Today, that number has reportedly fallen to approximately 30,000 residents.
Business representatives believe this decline has already created major financial losses for the city.
💶 Alanya Is Losing Around €60 Million Every Month
According to calculations presented by the Chamber of Commerce, if each foreign resident spends an average of at least €2,000 per month, the local economy is now losing around €60 million monthly.
The losses affect multiple sectors of the economy, including:
- Rental housing market
- Restaurants and cafés
- Supermarkets and local shops
- Private healthcare services
- Everyday services and consumer spending
🏠 Business Community Calls Restrictions a Mistake
The Alanya Chamber of Commerce believes the residence permit restrictions became a serious mistake for a city heavily dependent on tourism, foreign property buyers, and international residents.
Eray Erdem stated that Turkey should create favorable conditions for foreigners who want to:
- Buy property in Turkey
- Invest in the local economy
- Live in the country long term
At the same time, discussions about possible easing of residence permit rules have continued since 2024.
However, Turkish authorities have not yet officially announced any changes or relaxations.
