10
SVN Solovelanet Global
A
fter the dark years of terrorist attacks,
when visiting Turkey didn't always feel
safe, things are now changing for tou-
rists and other visitors to the country.
While civil rights and individual free-
doms remain unchanged, and Erdogan's hand can
be felt everywhere, there are no longer any dangers
for tourists who want to visit the country's beauti-
ful coastline. ISIS has been defeated by the Allied
forces and there have been no terrorist attacks in
tourist areas of the country for a long time now. With
safety guaranteed along the entire coast, charter
companies are getting organized again and tourists,
especially those from Germany and Scandinavia,
are renting boats in Atatürk's country once again.
Charter prices in the country remain low as demand
has not yet reached the levels of a few years ago.
This is despite the fact that many companies moved
their boats away to other locations when times were
not so good. Those boats which remain belong to
companies which received funding from the state,
and so were not allowed to move them abroad. As
before the attempted coup, the most convenient
boats are the caiques, and the number of these big
wooden boats far outstrips the current demand.
Turkish people are extremely friendly and hospitable,
especially with children, who always get special at-
tention here. While often rather traditional in outlook,
Turks are polite and helpful and are just as smiling
and welcoming as they have always been. Additional-
ly, facilities such as marinas are particularly nice. The
marina in Bodrum, for example, is one of the most
beautiful in Europe and offers five-star service.
For all these reasons, Turkey is well worth conside-
ring when planning the summer cruise and deciding
where to charter the boat. In Turkey, in the great in-
ner fjords, the sea is always warm and the bays are
gorgeous.
Turkey reopening
to tourism
Places in the world
by Nadia Allera
