While preparing for the next tourist season, Antalya faced a problem that needed to be solved. Long waits in traffic jams have become the main problem faced by travelers who dream of vacationing under the eternal Mediterranean sun.
Records and traffic jams
According to preliminary estimates, 16 million tourists will visit Antalya this year, which significantly exceeds the pre-pandemic record of 2019, noted the Turkish publication Hurriyet Daily News. At the same time, the bulk of tourists come from Ukraine, Germany, the UK, Poland, and Russia. Although the start of the season was delayed due to the earthquakes, the quick recovery and high temperatures promise a long beach season, according to experts.
Transport and waiting
However, there were also associated problems. For example, traffic and traffic jams became real suffering for vacationers. From the airport to the vacation spot, tourists are transported by shuttle buses of hotels and travel companies. Holidaymakers heading to hotels in Kemera, Demre, Finica, Kumluj, and Kas from Antalya Airport head west using the city’s main arteries or ring road, while the Antalya-Alania D-400 highway is the main route for transfers to the east side
Due to one highway on the route to popular locations, tourists are forced to spend their precious vacation time in traffic jams. In addition to vacationers, hotel workers, and independent travelers who live in the city and move to eastern areas also contribute to traffic congestion. Given Antalya’s urban population, with an average of one vehicle for every two people, the most complained about problem by tourists during the 2023 tourist season was long waits in traffic.
Necessary actions
Redzep Yavuz, head of the working group on tourism of the Antalya City Council, voiced this problem and emphasized the need for action. He noted that traffic jams are not only a problem for tourists but also for tourism workers who are forced to change their routines and spend a lot of time on the road, which creates additional difficulties. According to him, it is necessary to create new roads and alternative routes to solve this problem. Without them, Antalya will not be able to maintain its record tourism figures.