Tourism Merchants in Marmaris Are Going Through Tough Times

Merchants in Muğla's Marmaris district evaluated the tourism season. Barbaros Kurum, who has been a shopkeeper in the market for 40 years, said, "This year is very bad. I am trying to hold on. I am 80 years old. I am trying to leave something for my children and grandchildren." Tolga Tuncer, who operates a daily tour boat, stated, "Unless exorbitant prices decrease, we do not think people will come. We do not blame people for choosing to go to Rhodes instead."

Tourism merchants in Marmaris are having a difficult time due to the lack of tourists. The covered market shopkeepers, who did not find what they expected before the season due to the drop in tourist numbers, are not hopeful for August either.

"I'm holding on because I own my property, otherwise it wouldn't be possible."

Barbaros Kurum, who has been a shopkeeper in the market for 40 years, said:

"We have Bulgarians, Yugoslavs, Serbs, Albanians, and some Poles. There are no Central Europeans. Central Europeans are the ones with money. I wish our Anatolian people would come; at least they would enter the shop, even if they don't buy anything. This year is very bad. I can't say anything about 80% of the shopkeepers this year. This is my 40th year. I am holding on because I own my property; otherwise, it wouldn't be possible. There are no tourists. None this year. Last year, we earned a bit, thank God, no need to lie. I have nothing to say to the authorities. I am 80 years old, but I am resilient and working, trying to leave something for my children and grandchildren."

"We have lost a lot of local and foreign customers."

Tolga Tuncer, who operates a daily tour boat, said:

"I have been running a private tour boat business since 2003. This year our season is quite bad. We have lost a lot of local and foreign customers. We have no expectations anyway. Unless exorbitant prices decrease, we do not think people will come. We do not blame people for choosing to go to Rhodes instead. If our government could help with port fees, taxes, and accounting stoppages, we could lower our prices accordingly. Maybe we could reach the previous levels of activity. Our insurance and taxes are high. For example, if you go on a tour, you give some of it to the government, working like a partner with the state. Maintenance costs of the boat are significant expenses. Our earnings are low, and our costs are high. We have not made good earnings this year. We are having a bad season; we do not know how August will turn out."

"No one is happy."

Another merchant said, "Could it be worse? Yes, it could. Didn't we see it during the coronavirus times? We didn't make a single sale. Unfortunately, our people are never satisfied. We are getting by somehow. No one is happy. Those with money are not happy, and those without money are not happy either. Ask a rich person, they will say 'I don't have.' Ask a poor person, they will say 'I don't have.' No one says 'thank God.'"