The ‘Towel Movement’, which was launched against coastal businesses on the Paros Island of Greece and spread throughout the country, has also spread to Turkey.

At the beginning of August, protests started in the neighbouring country due to coastal businesses occupying the beaches and public beaches being paid. Activists entered paid beaches, sat with their towels, and argued the beaches belonged to the public and should be free. The protests spread across the country and even found a response on the Turkish coast.

Towel protests were organized for the same purposes in Ayvalık, Çeşme and Foça. It was protested that the people felt like second-class citizens.

We did not see similar protests in Didim and we met with the President of the Tourism Association, Melih Koyuncu, on the issue. Koyuncu said, “Didim has a really special sea with its bays, beaches, clean water and sandy coast. Didim has countless small and large bays and large beaches. All of it belongs to the public and is free, as it should be.”

Koyuncu said that there are hotels and sites on the seaside in Didim, as in other places, and added, “However, they are all open to the public and free of charge.”