A new resort – an alternative to Antalya – can be created in Turkey. At least, this is what the head of the Commission for the Development and Restructuring of Tourism of the city of Hatay, Omer Niziplioglu, who suffered from the earthquake, made to the Turkish media.
According to his estimates, this region can generally become the main tourist center of the Mediterranean, although for this it is necessary to “build hundreds of hotels for beach tourism in the region between Samandag and Arsuz”. However, the dangerousness of this coast, and not only seismic, may hinder the plans.
“It would be too optimistic to talk about tourism right now. However, if starting research and investments are started now, great tourism opportunities can be created in the future,” said Mr. Niziplioglu. So he noted the statement of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, regarding the efforts made to restore Hatay after the February earthquake.
“Hatai can become a tourist center of the Mediterranean. Our goal is for Hatay to turn into a Mediterranean tourist city — for this, it is necessary to open the sea between Samandag and Arsuz for tourism by building hundreds of hotels and opening shopping streets,” said a local official. In addition to the beach, the province has many attractions to offer tourists, including St. Peter’s Church, “which is the most important church after Jerusalem,” according to officials, and other monuments.
However, plans for “planned development of tourism” may be hindered by several circumstances at once.
From the point of view of tourism, the territory of Khatay does not differ in safety. And the problem here is not only earthquake safety. But also in the fact that the province is close to the Syrian border. And not just with the Syrian border – suffice it to say that the “famous” city of Idlib is only 50 km away from the capital of the province in a straight line through the pass…