Demostrators take to Bodrum beach amid surge in private beach fees
MUĞLA
Demonstrators carrying towels marched onto a public beach in the southwestern resort town of Gümüşlük as debates over rising private beach fees and public access to Türkiye’s coastline intensified during the peak summer season.
The protest came as prices at some of the country’s most popular seaside destinations climbed sharply, with entry fees at private beach clubs ranging from 750 Turkish Liras ($16) to as much as 20,000 liras ($425) per person, fueling renewed calls to preserve free public access to the coast.
The “Bring Your Towel” demonstration took place in Gümüşlük, a neighborhood in the resort district of Bodrum in Muğla Province, where residents gathered to draw attention to the constitutional principle that Türkiye’s coastlines are intended for public use. The event followed a series of protests launched last week under the slogan, “The Beaches Belong to the People and Will Remain So.”
