A delegation, including chambers and non-governmental organizations in Didim, drew attention to the problems of Didim with the question “Where is Didim going?” in a written press release.

The delegation included Didim Chamber of Commerce President Hilmi Erbaş, Didim Chamber of Agriculture President Hilmi Yıldırım, Didim Chauffeurs Chamber President Savaş Cengiz, Didim City Council President Osman Ayyıldız, Didim Tourism Infrastructure Service Union President Sevinç Karataş, Didim Association President Filiz Hekimoğlu, Didim Headmans Association President, Filiz Soydemir and Didim Tourism Association President Melih Koyuncu.

They made determinations about Didim with their written press release and asked questions to both the general government and local administrations.

The following statements were made on the subject: “Didim is one of the tourism favourites of our country with its nature, history and cultural richness. These values ​​​​of the district increase its attractiveness and therefore, there is a serious increase in the number of settlers every year. 

“There is an increase. If this wave of migration continues at the same pace, it is predicted that many resource and infrastructure problems, which are felt to be lacking today, will face us with a greatly deepened dimension.

“In this sense, the fact that the new lands of approximately 5 million square meters outside the existing planning areas are included in the Privatization Administration sales program makes us think. It is important that the zoning plans, which cannot keep up with the speed of the urbanization process of the district, produce solutions in this sense.”

The statement went on: “The city’s life in a short time like 5-10 years, there is a need for a planning process based on scientific and technical principles within this period. Otherwise, it shows us that the technical infrastructure problems felt today will become inextricable in the future.

“Therefore, before the allocations of all these areas put up for sale by the Privatization Administration are put on the agenda, the Central Administrative Structure and, in parallel, the Local Government Structures, should explain their plans to the people of the District in order to remove Didim from the Tourism District and not become a seaside city with many problems, and the people should still be among themselves.”

Questions they raised include:
“Didim does not have Sewerage Infrastructure. While it has a capacity of 400,000 people, how many people do the administration calculate the city population in 2030? According to this calculated population, how and with what investment programs are the infrastructure needs of the city planned to be met?
“ What are the investment programs to be implemented for the additional population that will arise through land sales? What kind of support will be given to those who will make these investments?
“Today, while the most important problem of the district, especially in summer, is the inability to meet the drinking water needs. What are the planned investments to overcome the problem of supplying drinking water for the population that will be in addition to the current population?
– What solutions are being considered to meet the need for electrical infrastructure, which is inadequate even today and whose deficiencies are clearly felt in the summer seasons?

– While it is obvious that the district’s health institutions are inadequate even for its current resident population and there are intense problems, will the additions to health institutions be sufficient for the population increase expected in 2030? Are new investments being considered?

– How many social areas, recreation and green areas are considered in response to the zoning plans? – While increasing production should be the first goal in this population increase, to what extent are agricultural lands protected in the areas planned for allocation? Are new agricultural areas being created?

– While Didim is known all over the world for its clean and healthy air, how are the vehicle roads, bicycle paths and parking lots planned to support this in urban transportation? How is the city’s 90 km coastline and transportation planned?
– How will the coastal areas and beaches, which face the interest of tourists who want to use the sea in the summer, be used? And how the administrations will find solutions to important urbanization problems that are experienced or likely to be experienced?”

It added: “These are the subjects that all our citizens living in the district want to learn. We are asking the public that will experience many problems with the additional population, the organizations that will invest, the people who will make production, and all the authorities that will affect the development of the district in order to direct the economy of the District and the Country and to use our resources in a healthy and correct manner without being consumed. Where is Didim going?”