Bodrum Mayor Tamer Mandalinci made assessments regarding tourism and said that the news that lahmacun (Turkish pizza) is sold for 2,500 TL in Bodrum undermines tourism. Mandalinci said, "This is never true. In Bodrum, lahmacun is 150 TL in tradesmen's restaurants. It is 350 TL in beach businesses. The price of lahmacun you will eat in restaurants where the service, quality, characteristics and products used are of the highest level is directly proportional to what you are looking for. I cannot give the price for the lahmacun you eat there."

Cruise ships continue to arrive in Bodrum, the tourism paradise district of Muğla. In this context, Marella Discovery 2 arrived in Bodrum at 08:00 and anchored. It was stated that there were 1789 tourists and 726 personnel on the ship, mainly British. It was stated that Marella Discovery 2 will depart for Heraklion Port of Greece at 18:00 today. Bodrum Mayor Tamer Mandalinci stated in a statement to the press regarding tourism that more than 160 passenger ships like Marella Discovery 2 will come to Bodrum this year. Mayor Mandalinci said, "In 2024, our region hosted around 1 million 100 thousand foreign tourists. As a result of the feedback we received from airline companies and the work we did at overseas fairs this year, we think that we will exceed this number. We have a port in our region where cruise ships are hosted, and there is an increase in the number of ships every year by adding cruise passengers. Cruise tourists make a very serious contribution to our regional economy. By bringing both airline, cruise and local tourists to the region, we will ensure that our tradesmen's businesses are in the best possible way this tourism season."

'WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 69 PUBLIC BEACHES, INCLUDING 19 IN FRONT OF BUSINESSES'

Referring to the tariffs to be applied on the public beaches in Bodrum, Mayor Mandalinci said, "It is our primary duty as municipal employees to ensure that tourists have the best possible holiday. We have a total of 69 public beaches, 19 of which are in front of businesses. Our local and foreign guests who come to Bodrum can go to private businesses if they wish. Those who do not want to go to private businesses can go to one of our municipality's 50 free public beaches and benefit from sunbed and umbrella services free of charge here. On the 19 public beaches in front of our municipal cafes, our sunbed will be 100 TL this year. This is a decision we made in response to the demand of our citizens to provide service for a fee in order to ensure the correct use of our beaches and to prevent negativity there."

'BODRUM IS NOT JUST ABOUT LAHMACUN'

Pointing out that the news in the national and international press that lahmacun is sold for 2,500 TL in Bodrum undermines tourism, Mayor Mandalinci said, "Bodrum is not just about lahmacun, lahmacun is not one of the main items consumed in Bodrum. Please do not label Bodrum with the prices of lahmacun on the beaches this year. News has already started to come out, but no one has opened a lahmacun oven yet. But you made up a price of '2 thousand 500 TL'. This is never true. In Bodrum, lahmacun is 150 TL in tradesmen's restaurants. It is 350 TL in beach businesses. The price of lahmacun you will eat in restaurants where the service, quality, characteristics and products used are of the highest level is directly proportional to what you are looking for. I cannot give the price for the lahmacun you eat there. You cannot eat lahmacun for 2 thousand 500 TL in any restaurant in Bodrum. I see it as a futile effort to undermine the tourism of our city, which has become a brand with its keşkek (a dish of pounded meat and wheat), çökertme kebabı (a kind of Turkish kebab) and bitter herbs and local delicacies, in this way with lahmacun. We are not saddened by the continuous presentation of such news as if it has a magazine value, it makes us laugh. We have places where you can get service according to every budget."