Companies argue new boat trip policy
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 09, 2009 00:00
MUĞLA - Tourism companies have responded harshly to recent warnings against overcrowded boat tours, saying it will severely damage lakes and channels.
Last week Muğla Governor Ahmet Altıparmak said boat tours on Lake Köyceğiz and the Dalyan channels will be more strictly controlled against overcrowding and other problems. Altıparmak said companies should not pack "35 tourists on a 25-person boat."
Following those remarks, the Dalyan Channel Administration Committee backed the governor and held a meeting to limit the number of tourists on boats.
Boat owners and the Dalyan Water Products Cooperative, however, reacted to the decision by claiming it would double the number of boats cruising the channel and this would also damage the environment.
"If this decision is implemented, the number of boats cruising in the channel will double," owner of Kardak Tourism Özay Akdoğan told the Doğan news agency. "This also means termination of the channel."
Akdoğan also complained that nobody asked for the cooperative’s input.
"We represent 360 boat owners but they did not ask our opinion," he said.
"According to our license, these boats can carry 32 people legally. However the committee limited this number to 25 for the comfort of tourists," he said. "What about the channel and the surrounding nature? With this decision the number of boats cruising the channels will increase and will likewise damage the channels because they cannot bear this many boats."
Following those remarks, the Dalyan Channel Administration Committee backed the governor and held a meeting to limit the number of tourists on boats.
Boat owners and the Dalyan Water Products Cooperative, however, reacted to the decision by claiming it would double the number of boats cruising the channel and this would also damage the environment.
"If this decision is implemented, the number of boats cruising in the channel will double," owner of Kardak Tourism Özay Akdoğan told the Doğan news agency. "This also means termination of the channel."
Akdoğan also complained that nobody asked for the cooperative’s input.
"We represent 360 boat owners but they did not ask our opinion," he said.
"According to our license, these boats can carry 32 people legally. However the committee limited this number to 25 for the comfort of tourists," he said. "What about the channel and the surrounding nature? With this decision the number of boats cruising the channels will increase and will likewise damage the channels because they cannot bear this many boats."