Yacht tourism, which started in Turkey in the mid-60s with the arrival of foreign boats, led to many important developments in a short time, as well as the start of marina business. Kuşadası, which set out to be Turkey's first marina, would lose this impressive title to Çeşme due to some problems, but would manage to preserve its pioneering identity.

 

Kuşadası, which hosts Türkiye's first Tourism Information Office, is the first link of the "big marinization move", of which development plans are prepared by the State Planning Organization and whose investments are undertaken by the TURBAN enterprise affiliated with the Turkish Tourism Bank. This special story begins when the allocation of TRY 20 million allocated from the Tourism Fund for the purpose of expanding the İzmir Karşıyaka Sailing Club facilities and turning them into a marina was shifted to Kuşadası for the construction of a marina, as a result of the efforts of Aydın MPs.

 

 

The first studies for Kuşadası marina were carried out by the DLH İzmir Regional Directorate within the Ministry of Public Works, and first marina surveys were carried out. Although the bay between Güvercin Island and Yılancı Cape was considered for the location of the marina, as a result of the soundings, it was concluded that it would be less costly to place the breakwater on the bank in the south of Akyar Cape, where the historical Kısmet Hotel is located, due to the depth of the sea and the need for expropriation on the beach. So, the location of the marina became clear.

 

Then, marinas built in the world were examined. Plans of the Tokyo Olympic Marina in Japan were provided. The planning phase was completed by adding a slipway ramp for small boats to this project. When STFA Construction company started the construction of the marina as the main contractor in mid-1968, the population of Kuşadası was only 5 thousand people.

 

 

Construction progressed at great speed. Within two years, the breakwater construction, including the shore embankment, were to be completed, the inner quay blocks were to be laid and the T pier be completed. The remaining small stones from the quarry were used in the filling of today's coastal road from the marina to the small island. Meanwhile, 4000 tons of stone were transported per day with 6 carriers, a total of 750,000 tons of stone was used. For this purpose, 16 blows were made out with 114 tons of dynamite. Despite all the progress, due to lack of funds, STFA left the project by completing the port filling with a progress payment of TRY 24 million.

 

After approximately two years of waiting, Sözer Biraderler company started work in 1973 to complete the remaining concrete and superstructures.

 

Finally, as the calendar turns to 1977, Kuşadası marina officially came into service as Türkiye's third marina, after Çeşme and Bodrum. Deep sea captain Şahap Karaca became the first manager of the marina.

 

 

When Kuşadası marina opened, it consisted of a small service building and 3-4 personnel. The number of boats in the marina was around 50. In 1982, with the completion of the superstructures and workshop buildings, Türkiye's first marina travel lift was put into service in Kuşadası marina. The first lift operator started working and the first workshops started operating.

 

Kuşadası, which was included in the Setur Marinas chain in 1997, has become a sheltered and fully-fledged marina where mostly foreign flagged yachts winter, with the renovations made over time. It has become one of the most important marinas in the region with its central location in the Aegean Sea, its port area where mega yachts up to 100 m can be moored, its mooring capacity of 450 yachts, its boatyard that can serve 150 boats, its social facilities and its proximity to the ancient city of Ephesus. Today, the Marina also contains the busiest living space in Kuşadası city center. Setur Kuşadası Marina, which was renovated in parallel with the modern market complex where shops, cafes and restaurants are located, is a marina tourism facility certified by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

 

 

Setur Kuşadası Marina has embraced the strong sailing tradition dating back to the 1960s and has continued to pioneer maritime and marina business in Türkiye since the day it was opened.  Marina employees trained in Kuşadası Marina, which has 22 Turban and 6 Setur Marina managers, are today working in senior positions in several marinas of Türkiye.