Environmentalists threaten to arrange major protests against a project to expand the Marmaris Port, as the government speeds up the process. Despite the environmentalists’ opposition, business owners in the popular resort town have high hopes for the cruise tourists expected to visit Marmaris



There are two docks at the Marmaris Port currently, one of which is 295 meters in length and the other is 150 meters, but the port can host only one ship at a time. DHA photo
The debate over whether the port of a popular resort town should be expanded is heating up as the government speeds up the process.

Environmentalists in the popular resort town of Marmaris are opposed to a plan to enlarge the Marmaris Port, arguing that the increased number of ships visiting the tourism resort will cause pollution. However, local shopkeepers think the expansion could be useful for their businesses.

The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP’s, Muğla deputy, Mehmet Nil Hıdır, who visited the town on the last day of the holy month of Ramadan, said the project was in the final stages of planning. “The transport minister will soon start the construction work,” he said at a dinner party. “I am aware that Marmaris locals are very sensitive about the issue. But experts have conducted extensive research and there is no way the port will harm the environment.”

Hıdır said cruise tourism has become very important in recent years and Turkey should take advantage of its natural harbors and strategic location. “The port cities in Europe are aware of the importance of cruise tourism. No one should be concerned about the expansion of the Marmaris Port,” the deputy said.

However, Hıdır’s remarks were not convincing for the environmentalists. The Marmaris Tourism Environment Advocates Association, or MEAA's, chairwoman, Filiz Ersan, said they would not allow any wrongdoing. The Rainbow Warrior, the flagship of environmentalist group Greenpeace, visited Marmaris last week, and Ersan said they stopped Greenpeace members from staging a protest against the expansion project. “But if they try to go on with the plan, we will stage huge protests with the help of Greenpeace,” she said. “No one should even think about the Marmaris Port project anymore.”

Despite the major opposition from environmentalists, many shopkeepers in the resort town think that an expanded port, which will be visited by larger cruise ships, is what Marmaris needs.

Şükrü Ayyıldız, chairman of the Marmaris Chamber of Artisans, said they would support any project that can help the shop owners in the town. “I see no problem in the project, if the passengers on visiting ships will do their shopping from the local shops,” he said. “But, if the main reason of the expansion plan is something else, we cannot accept it.”

Restaurant owners in Marmaris, who were hit hard this season by the decreasing number of tourists and especially by the all-inclusive system, have their hopes set on the promised cruise passengers. “Marmaris and the surrounding tourism districts have over 3,000 restaurants and bars,” said Hikmet Çakır, chairman of Marmaris Restaurant and Bar Owners Association. “If the port is expanded, it will be able to host three large cruisers a day. The passengers on board those ships will help both the local economy and the efforts to promote Marmaris.”

In the last eight years, 530 cruise ships visited Marmaris Port, bringing in more than 1.2 million tourists. The port was rented out to private company Marmaris Port Enterprises in 2001 for a term of 49 years, making it the first port in Turkey to be privatized.

The company prepared an expansion project to build a new 300-meter pier, but could not get the necessary permission.

Ali Doğan Tugay, executive board chairman of Marmaris Port Enterprises, said earlier the port should be expanded to get a bigger share of the cruise tourism pie. “There are two docks at the port currently, one of which is 295 meters in length and the other is 150 meters,” said Tugay.

“Like this, we cannot host two big ships at the same time. So sometimes we cannot meet the demand. If the port is expanded, we will be able to host three big ships at the most.”

Tugay said the environment would not be harmed during or after the expansion. “I understand environmentalists' sensitivity but there is nothing to worry about,” he said. “If the port is expanded, none of the scenarios they have claimed will take place here. We were granted permission after many years of examinations and diligent studies. They shouldn't worry. We won't do anything to harm Marmaris.”