Belek's natural beauty was discovered in 1984 and the region was proclaimed the "Belek Tourism Center". In later years, Belek became what it is today, a paradise on earth, thanks to cooperation between the Belek Tourism Investors Association and the Ministry Of Culture and Tourism. The Belek region on the Mediterranean coast is located 30 kilometers on the east side of Antalya province. Recently it was chosen by the Ministry Of Culture and Tourism to be a tourism model not just for today's tourist, but also for the tourist of the next thousand years. Belek!... What a tourism paradise!. The region has 47 four or five-stars hotels and first-class holiday villages and five golf courses. All of the facilities that have been designated first-class provide an ideal atmosphere for families and meticulously offer many opportunities and services aimed at pleasing their guests. All the facilities offer floodlit tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, completely equipped health and fitness centers, play areas and many more possibilities. Belek hoteliers are proud that Belek is the new face of Turkish tourism. Belek also serves professional and amateur sport teams with its 50 football grounds and more than 200 tennis courts. Belek hotels have a righteous reputation in congress tourism with a lot of halls providing simultaneous translation service and hosted international meetings. Healthcare and beauty tourism are given cognizance in Belek Hotels, as well. There are many Thallasso centers, healthcare facilities, and beauty centers in Belek. Belek is not just a touristic holiday site. It also is an important space sheltering natural life characteristics of Mediterranean Region. Botanical researches have shown that there are 574 plant species in Belek and 29 of them are endemic species (unique to Turkey) 1, Serik Pear (Pyrus serikensis), is the regional endemic (unique to Belek). Researches show that Belek hosts more than 38 mammalian species, more than 100 birds, more than 30 reptilians, and 51 invertebrates. What makes Belek important in respect of natural characteristic is that it is "the Breeding Ground of Sea Turtles". Furthermore, Belek is also proliferation area of Caretta Caretta, which is one of endangered species.
