Locals in Kemer are concerned that the recent boom in the tourism sector will turn the tranquil town into a concrete-filled tourist trap, but Mayor Hasan Şeker vows the town will not turn into another Bodrum

Kemer, a resort next to Antalya, is expecting the to get a new, larger marina and a new bus station in 2008, to serve the growing number of visitors. A sea taxi connecting the town with the city of Antalya is also in the works. However, many locals are concerned that the development will turn the tranquil town into a concrete-filled tourist trap

Kemer Mayor Hasan Şeker told the Turkish Daily News that locals should not worry Kemer is losing its greenness and serenity any time soon because there is not much more land in the town to build on.

“At times people ask me when Kemer is going to become another Bodrum, meaning a resort with a bustling nightlife, shopping scene and notable tourism arrivals each summer. I always answer them that Kemer is not becoming and will not become another Bodrum,” he told the TDN.

“There is not much more space for the Kemer to expand anyway,” he added, “development has already reached the boundaries of the town. Furthermore, maintaining a peaceful and serene environment is very important as people come here to rest. A balance between local residences and tourism facilities should be preserved.” 

The new bus station is expected to be built north of Kemer's town center, near the police headquarters. Work for the expanded marina project, taken up by a private company, is expected to be finalized before the end of 2007. It is expected that the new marina will be about two to three times the size of the existing one. “Expanding the harbor gives Kemer improved facilities. The use of new technology does not harm the nature either,” Şeker noted.

Kemer municipality is also backing the plan of Antalya Municipality to introduce a sea taxi transport service between Kemer and Antalya. Currently, the only way to get to Antalya is a dolmuş bus that takes approximately 50 minutes. The Council of Antalya Municipality approved the plan in late July, and agreed to provide three 30-person boats to operate the route. The sea taxi is expected to start serving the route between April and October in at most two years' time.

The development taking place in the town is criticized by many locals. A local actively involved in the tourism business underlined that permanent residents of Kemer have already lost the hope of the town remaining a peaceful resort. “Whatever the local authorities say, the reality is that greenness is gradually being lost. Kemer used to be an orange garden but now it is full of hotels. The growth pace must slow down or else, in 15 years this place will be a stone village,” he said on the condition of anonymity.

A British-Turkish holidaymaker, whose family owns property in the region, also noted the rapid changes Kemer is experiencing. “The town is changing fast. It is not the same serene village it used to be. Let's hope it will not become yet another tourist trap,” she said. The Mediterranean Association of Tourist Hoteliers (AKTOB) President Osman Ayık noted that after a rapid expansion of tourism facilities in the region, there is need to digest the growth. “The growth of tourism in Antalya region has been particularly rapid in the past 20 years. Whilst arrival numbers have grown exponentially numerous new hotels have been built. But it has not been possible for the infrastructure to follow this growth,” he told the TDN. “There is a clear need to give the growth a break, and focus on developing the legal and human resources infrastructure instead. But also this has to be done with careful planning,” he concluded.