Bodrum, Saint-Tropez of Turkey, takes action to draw more visitors from abroad. With this purpose, the long vehicle traveling across Anatolia before the summer season 2017, will now take the road in Europe.

When you arrive at the top of the slope You will see Bodrum, Don’t think that You will be the same when going Those before you were like That But they always went Leaving their heart in Bodrum… Halikarnas Balıkçısı, in other words Cevat Şakir, tells his love for Bodrum with these lines. According to Homeros talking about Bodrum in his famous work Iliada, this peninsula is the home of eternal blue. In recent times, double stars pour to Bodrum which always has a special place in the hearts of local tourists. On one hand, the world famous luxurious hotels possessing several stars open their doors successively in Bodrum and the world famous artists, top models show up on the streets of the town, on the other. However, despite these positive developments, Bodrum couldn’t yet take the place it deserves. The negative developments deteriorating the Turkish tourism in recent years, are eventually felt in Bodrum too. Bodrum which is packed with local tourists during feast holidays falling on summer months and finally, hosting some 1,5 million local tourists during Eid Al Adha, is now set to embrace a sustainable tourism.

The long vehicle traveling across Anatolia to promote Bodrum for the summer season 2017, in cooperation between the Municipality of Bodrum and the tourism authorities, will now go on a tour across Europe. “We don’t have any intention or luxury to withdraw from Europe because tourism is stumbling, tourists don’t come from Europe etc… Bodrum will participate again to the 30 fairs next year. For Europe, we also plan something similar to the long vehicle traveling across Anatolia” Bodrum Mayor Mehmet Kocadon tells, declaring officially that works are started for this purpose.

NUMBER OF DUTCH AND BRITISH TOURISTS DECLINED

Well, how was the season 2017 in Bodrum when talking about the European tourists?

Answering to our questions Hasan Güven, Deputy Chair of the Bodrum Hoteliers Association (BODER), points out mainly the losses in the British and Dutch markets. Despite this atmosphere, Güven underlines that the world famous hotel chains continue to come to the region; “the investments keep going on, something which gives hope to us. However, I would like to advise to those willing to invest here in the future that they find the customers first before coming here” he tells.

When talking with Güven, we ask also about the love of Turks for the Greek islands in recent years and the claims that Bodrum is very expensive. First of all, Güven rejects the idea that Bodrum is expensive. “Everyone has his/ her own Bodrum. You can find accommodation from 150 thousand liras to 50 liras per night depending on your budget. This is the same in all touristic regions across the world. Isn’t the same in Istanbul?” he replies with a question to our question. As for the interest of the Turks for the Greek islands, he’s not worried at all. “The tourists with no money go mostly to the Greek islands,; a useless crowd” he says.

As Güven underlines, the stars keep pouring to Bodrum with a total bed capacity of 100 thousands. Following the world famous hotels like Hilton, Kempinski and Swiss, Mandarin Hotel opened in Bodrum 2,5 years ago and recently, Paramount Pictures headquartered in California, chose the resort. In 2018, the luxurious hotel chain brand Banyan Tree of Singapore is announced to enter to Europe from Bodrum after the LUX Bodrum Resort & Residences making a pompous start by hosting Nicole Kidman. Other luxurious chains like Fairmont, Bulgari, ShangriLa, Ritz Carlton, St. Regis and Armani too have plans for Bodrum. The interest of all these big chains are promising for the future of Bodrum.