#Tamer Mandalinci

Paying the price for expensive lahmacun! There's neither domestic nor foreign tourists left

Not only domestic but also foreign tourists have been driven away, leaving the most famous holiday destinations on the Aegean coast almost empty this summer season. Hotel occupancy rates have dropped to around 60% in many areas, including Bodrum, the jewel of tourism. Some businesses have even resorted to using 'stand-in' customers. Business owners in Bodrum, which has been in the spotlight due to lahmacun prices, defended that prices are not actually expensive. MAYOR’S RESPONSE TO ‘BODRUM IS EXPENSIVE’ CLAIMS Speaking to Halk TV, Bodrum Mayor Tamer Mandalinci expressed his reaction, stating that calling Bodrum very expensive is a perception operation. Mandalinci said, "As every year, the perception that Bodrum is expensive is brought up at the beginning of the year with the lahmacun index. Lahmacun is not something consumed daily on Bodrum beaches, but for some reason, certain people are trying to associate Bodrum with expensive lahmacun and create a perception of high costs here." "PRICE HIKES ARE NECESSARY" "We are being treated unfairly with the perception of high costs in Bodrum. Compared to last year, everything has become more expensive, so business owners in Bodrum have to reflect this in their prices. Bodrum offers a wide range for people. You can have a meal for 200 liras in Bodrum, or you can have a meal for 2,500 euros."