Even worse than the coronavirus, the fires hit tourism in Turkey. But the government is spreading optimism, although people are very worried.
The receptionist of a hotel in Marmaris stands in the lobby with folded arms and looks across the black, charred forest. The fires destroyed large forest areas in the area of ​​Marmaris. A tragic black and white landscape is now left. “It’s worse than the coronavirus. “Beautiful nature was destroyed,” he says. Reservations are now canceled. Many tourists are leaving, however this season was important for the industry. “This year we expected a recovery.”
Forests and villages were burned, hotels were evacuated and there were constant warnings of new fires. The news of the fires has caused concern among tourists about their favorite areas in Turkey, which were already affected by the coronavirus.
The Association of Hoteliers and Tourist Enterprises has launched a campaign, asking tourists to spend their holidays in the affected areas, so that they can stand on their own two feet again.
Tourism, an important factor for GDP
Tourism is one of the most important sectors in the country and according to statistics, in 2019, before the coronavirus crisis, it accounted for 11% of Gross Domestic Product. However, last year the percentage dropped to around 70%.
The government, meanwhile, sees few problems for the sector due to the fires. There were cancellations at the start of the fire, but now bookings are rising again, Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said recently.
For some areas this may be the case. In the Antalya region, for example, the fires were not very large. This is not the case at all in the tourist resort of Turunds. The seaside village is located 20 km from Marmaris in a small bay surrounded by mountains. A small narrow road leads to the area. The forests were burning for eight whole days, says a restaurant owner.
It took the fire brigade days to arrive
On the beach, tourists stood in line to be taken to safe accommodation. Residents say they fought the flames on the steep slopes for days to keep the fire away. The help from the fire brigade and the planes took days to arrive. The residents managed it, the fires were extinguished, but the tourists left.
Excursion boats, which usually at this time of year every ten minutes bring tourists to nearby bays or to Marmaris, now have no work. “I have 80% cancellations for the rest of the season,” said Sally Sengil, a rental boat owner. “We have no hope that things will go better this year,” he added. He has not slept for days, he fought every night with the flames to save his place. “If we had followed the official evacuation instructions, Turunds would now be completely in ruins”
People in Turkey, Greece, Italy, but also wherever the fire destroyed nature, their homes and jobs, share the same fate and another difficult year.
source: Deutsche Welle
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