Tengrinews.kz — On Antalya's popular beaches, tourists are capturing videos of plastic waste instead of postcards of turquoise waters. Complaints are surfacing from several resort areas at once, while local authorities have yet to find a permanent solution.
According to vacationers, the problem becomes particularly noticeable in the afternoon. Waves wash up microplastics, bottle caps, packaging, labels, soggy paper, and other household litter onto the shore. Many noted that the waste not only ruins the appearance of the popular resorts but also emits an unpleasant odor.
The highest number of complaints is coming from popular beaches along the coast—ranging from Kemer to the Konyaaltı district in Antalya.
Videos of the polluted beaches are spreading rapidly across social media. Instead of traditional vacation photos, users are showing shorelines literally strewn with plastic waste.
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According to local media, regional authorities regularly clean the beaches, but the problem keeps recurring. For instance, back in May, the Kemer municipality organized a large-scale cleanup of the world-famous Çıralı beach following numerous appeals from residents. At the time, it was reported that the plastic waste was brought in by the sea, presumably after being discharged from commercial vessels.
Following the cleanup, authorities stated that the beach would remain under constant monitoring to prevent new cases of pollution. However, as noted by local residents and tourists, a long-term solution has yet to be achieved—trash continues to drift ashore.
According to information from Turkish media reports that the problem of plastic pollution on the coast has existed for several years; however, this summer, particularly in recent weeks, the situation has noticeably worsened.
Tourists hope that local authorities can find a long-term solution, as Antalya remains one of the most popular resort destinations for travelers worldwide, including those from Kazakhstan. In 2024, Turkey was visited by more than 123,000 Kazakhs.
As a reminder, tourists planning a holiday on Turkey's Mediterranean coast will have to adjust their habits. Since June 5, a total smoking ban has been introduced in Antalya.