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Antalya is strengthening its role as a sports tourism hub as weightlifting clubs from the Netherlands and England choose the Mediterranean city for training camps that combine professional preparation with resort-style recovery.
The city, already one of Türkiye’s best-known tourism destinations, is increasingly being used by European sports clubs for pre-season and competition preparations thanks to its mild climate, hotel capacity and sports infrastructure.
In areas such as Manavgat, Belek and Kemer, athletes are able to train in high-standard facilities while also making use of the holiday environment around them.
Dutch and English weightlifting clubs have recently set up camp in Manavgat, a district of Antalya, as their athletes prepare for upcoming championships and the Olympic qualification period.
The camps allow athletes to carry out intensive training while also finding time to recover in a resort setting. For weightlifters, who follow demanding strength-based programs, the availability of both training equipment and recovery facilities has become a major advantage.
Serdar Kaplan, an official from Throne Travel Agency, which organized the camp, said Antalya had built up a strong reputation in sports tourism. He noted that the city’s climate, accommodation capacity and training facilities had made it attractive for clubs, while demand from club teams had increased after interest from national teams.
Omar Khatrhiri, president of the Dutch Horn Weightlifting Club, said the team was holding its first camp in Türkiye and was pleased with the organization in Antalya.
“The organization is really great, the food and the climate are very good. There is a very professional environment here, and the best weightlifters in the world rankings come here. We will definitely come again next year,” Khatrhiri said.
Sonia Wisniewska, one of the club’s athletes, said they chose Manavgat for their European Championship preparations and were satisfied with the climate and facilities.
Benedict Millson, a weightlifter from England’s Mems Weightlifting Club, also said the camp had been productive, especially because athletes could rest properly after training sessions.
“We came here for training. After an intense weightlifting session, we relax by the pool and rest properly. The training facilities offered by the five-star hotel are incredible; everything we need is within reach,” Millson said.
Another English weightlifter, Jon Khoo, said the camp gave him the chance to train alongside important athletes in a good environment.
Nida Kiraz, president of the Türkiye Sports Tourism Association, said Türkiye had gained significant momentum in sports tourism in recent years.
Kiraz said the country offered key advantages over rival European destinations, especially because of its price-performance balance, central location and mild climate. He noted that Antalya becomes particularly attractive during the winter period, when many European destinations face less favorable weather conditions.
He said Antalya could offer similar climate conditions at more economical package prices than many European alternatives, making Türkiye appealing not only for professional sports clubs but also for amateur sports organizations.
Kiraz added that the economic contribution of sports tourism to the country’s wider tourism sector was expected to grow further in the coming period.
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