Maritime festival lifts up Marmaris’s spirits again
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Sedat Kirt
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 20, 2009 00:00
MARMARIS - The events calendar of Western tourist spots is getting busier every day, but the fifth edition of the Maritime and Spring Festival is a standout. Marmaris enjoys colorful days despite being affected by the global economic crisis, thanks to contribution from six countries
Marmaris, the point where the Aegean and Mediterranean meet, has just finished hosting the "Maritime and Spring Festival," which ran from May 16 to 19. Marmaris Municipality, the organizer of the festival, aimed to enable participants and visitors to take part in water-based activities, exhibitions, sports and entertainment that was a blend of regional and international culture. The Maritime and Spring Festival was a combination of colorful parades, sports, cultural activities, scientific panels and meetings, exciting competitions and exhibitions, with the sea as recurring theme.
Although the global crisis had an effect on the budget of the festival and some countries could not take place because of financial restrictions, this year’s festival was supported by 12 groups from six countries. Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria and northern Cyprus all sent "dance & show" groups to Marmaris to contribute to the "festival soul".
This year Marmaris people felt the "soul of the festival" more than in previous years, which is a sign of a festival culture with a long lifeline. Locals joined in activities more than before and spent more time at activity venues. The most significant sign for the festival soul was the high attendance of children and teenagers at the dance shows, sports activities and maritime competitions.
Beside that, the very low budget of the municipality for the festival, estimated at 10,000 Turkish Liras, was an unbelievable figure for such an organization. The collective work with the sponsors and other institutions supported the Marmaris Municipality in preparing a "low-cost festival" this year. Without any popular singer, the festival committee prepared a rich program that included several types of dance from different cultures, maritime competitions, beach activities, free water sports, street basketball, an international wheelchair tennis tournament, rowing and canoe races, art exhibitions at the marina, a sand castle competition and concerts. İsmet Kamil Öner, a festival committee member, explained that the municipality had run a campaign to establish a "festival soul" since 2006 and this year publıc satisfaction was greater than in previous years, despite the very small budget.
More tourism
The Marmaris representative of the Union of Turkish Travel Agencies, or Türsab, İsmail Özbozdağ, said that the festival was an opportunity to bring more tourists to the city in May, which is a pre-season month. He claimed that Marmaris had a chance to change its reputation with the Maritime Festival. Ahmet Şahin, a cafeteria owner near Atatürk Square in the city center, said business went up during the festival and he hoped to see more people in coming following years.
Although the global crisis had an effect on the budget of the festival and some countries could not take place because of financial restrictions, this year’s festival was supported by 12 groups from six countries. Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria and northern Cyprus all sent "dance & show" groups to Marmaris to contribute to the "festival soul".
This year Marmaris people felt the "soul of the festival" more than in previous years, which is a sign of a festival culture with a long lifeline. Locals joined in activities more than before and spent more time at activity venues. The most significant sign for the festival soul was the high attendance of children and teenagers at the dance shows, sports activities and maritime competitions.
Beside that, the very low budget of the municipality for the festival, estimated at 10,000 Turkish Liras, was an unbelievable figure for such an organization. The collective work with the sponsors and other institutions supported the Marmaris Municipality in preparing a "low-cost festival" this year. Without any popular singer, the festival committee prepared a rich program that included several types of dance from different cultures, maritime competitions, beach activities, free water sports, street basketball, an international wheelchair tennis tournament, rowing and canoe races, art exhibitions at the marina, a sand castle competition and concerts. İsmet Kamil Öner, a festival committee member, explained that the municipality had run a campaign to establish a "festival soul" since 2006 and this year publıc satisfaction was greater than in previous years, despite the very small budget.
More tourism
The Marmaris representative of the Union of Turkish Travel Agencies, or Türsab, İsmail Özbozdağ, said that the festival was an opportunity to bring more tourists to the city in May, which is a pre-season month. He claimed that Marmaris had a chance to change its reputation with the Maritime Festival. Ahmet Şahin, a cafeteria owner near Atatürk Square in the city center, said business went up during the festival and he hoped to see more people in coming following years.