New investments on the way on Ilgaz Mountain

ÇANKIRI - Anatolia News Agency

Offiicials say that thanks to these new investments, tourism activities will increase in the region, which is already a popular winter tourism center to a great extent. Hürriyet photo

The construction of new winter sports facilities on Ilgaz Mountain in the western Black Sea region is expected to turn the area into one of the most premier ski resorts in Turkey, according to officials.
Investments are being planned in both the Black Sea province of Kastamonu and the Central Anatolian province of Çankırı.

“Thanks to these new investments, tourism activities will increase in the region to a great extent,” Çankırı Culture and Tourism Director Mustafa Kemal Karatatar told Anatolia news agency. “The goal is to make Ilgaz Mountain one of Turkey’s most popular ski resorts.”

Karatatar said a new chairlift was being constructed on the mountain’s Yıldıztepe section that would be able to move 1,200 people per hour. Testing has already started, he said, adding that it would be the longest chairlift line on the mountain at 1,600 meters.

After an international accreditation company inspects the results of the testing, the chairlift will serve an area of 4,700 square meters for winter sports lovers, he said. Meanwhile, three smaller lifts will start serving beginning skiers and children in the 2011-2012 winter season, he added.
A number of big investments were also continuing at the mountain’s peak, he said, adding that mechanical parts had been acquired for a 90-meter-long new chair lift that is slated to be constructed at the peak.

‘Number one in Turkey’

“Ilgaz Mountain will be number one in Turkey in the next few years,” said Hakan Sevencan, the director of the Ilgaz Mountain Resort Hotel, which is situated in the eastern part of the mountain. Investments will continue non-stop in the region, he added.

The snow base has now reached 30 centimeters, he said, noting that the mountain was particularly popular on weekends.

“The region has also become one of the significant places for conference tourism. We are very pleased with this growing interest,” he said.

Sevencan said a sports complex would also be established over an area of 5,000 square meters on Kadı Mountain in Kastamonu, providing holiday-makers with a chance to enjoy a variety of sports in the complex.

“We expect the airport in Kastamonu will be able to accommodate services next year,” he said, adding that transportation to Ilgaz would be much easier when the airport opens. The distance between Istanbul and Ilgaz Mountain will take less than one hour, he added.

“Ilgaz is already a center of attraction for the Central Anatolian region, particularly for Ankara. With the establishment of new roads, Ilgaz will be the most popular ski center in the country,” he said.