The port of Istanbul is in the process of developing
Galataport, a huge complex along the
Salipazari-Karakoy harbor that city officials hope will attract luxury cruise ships to the area.
The project will include several four/five star hotels, shops, a food court, cinema and passenger lounge for cruise
ship passengers. When completed, the port complex is expected to increase the number of tourists from 3.5 million to
well over 7 million and should be able to support three cruise ships in port at the same time.
An investment group led by billionaire shipping magnate Sami Ofer’s Royal Caribbean Cruises offered more than $4.3
billion for the right to run the seaport. Ofer is currently ranked the world’s 188th richest person by Forbes.
[via Istanbul
Metroblogging]