This is a piece that columnist Glenn Maffia first had printed on May 10, 2005, in the Didymian, the forerunner to the Voices Newspaper.

GOOD to see the first waves of tourists arriving last week, and so refreshing to meet a number of Germans. If the town is to succeed in establishing itself as a resort of the highest quality then it must attract and cater across all nationalities.

Indeed, Altinkum was a multinational resort when I first arrived here. I fondly recall talking to French, Swedish and Dutch tourists.

The intervening years, however, have seen a drift towards the more unsavoury tacky commercialism that appeals to the less educated levels of British society. Or more importantly, to their pocket.

That has been the crux of my articles that in some quarters have been misconstrued.

I have no problem with people dancing, singing, banging whomever they want, in pursuit of a ‘little bit of fun and entertainment’. I do, though, have strong reservations upon the global perception of Didim: this all pervading type of tourist expresses.

For when just about every bar and cafe plays exactly the same style of music and has the identical ‘chips with everything’ menu, then I begin to smell the danger of appealing to a selected brand of customer, to the exclusion of all others (and before anyone asks, I am aware of the fantastic lokantas in Yenihisar).

Such a wrong path to travel. It is diversity that breeds a vibrant culture.

Coming from London, I have witnessed at first hand just how vibrant a cosmopolitan community can be.

One that is stimulating, not stagnantly claustrophobic. Will we still be singing and dancing to ‘Kiss Kiss and ‘Born in Africa’ for the next two decades! Remember what a couple of ‘fun’ song ditties did, and continue to do, to the image of Spain!

There may well be a number of narrow minded British whom would desire Didim to be some kind of Britannia enclave (their own private Blackpool or Skegness). Though to make progressive strides towards becoming a highly regarded and prosperous resort town we need to address all issues regarding quality.

And the first one to be fiercely addressed, surely, is the unwanted attention of ‘hassle boys’ outside the bars and cafes.

Of course, these boys have to earn a living; we all do, or have done. If we are to see the continual development of Didim as a whole, then this short term pursuit of profit will be detrimental to the greater benefit of all Didymians.

Simply, tourists come here to relax. To be put under a constant barrage of pressure is an anathema for the reason they are here. Frankly, tourists do not like it. Not one tiny bit.

I know that people actually take different routes, or bypass using backstreets, just to avoid places that hassle too vigorously. No one needs this to be happening. For it is quite derogatory to the laid back nature of Didim which we all adore.

To witness ‘hassle boys’ operating like a spider upon a web, lying in wait for their snare, would be aching laughable, if it were not so desperately tragic.

Image is of paramount importance, especially in the tourist industry. This ‘hassle’ tactic is fundamentally rude (and some are particularly aggressive), which runs contrary to the fact that Turkey is a country of genuine hospitable people.

If this philosophy of bullying tourists into, more often than not, dubious hostelries persist then I can only but cringe at the long term effects for our town.

In the Temple of Apollo we have one of the most glorious jewels in all of the Aegean.

As an art historian I am constantly visiting the site.

Already this season I’ve witnessed coach loads of other Europeans being escorted around on their tours, but very few British, I’m afraid to say.

Admittedly, it is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Though, information suggesting that 80 to 85 per cent of British, either living or holidaying here, never even visit this wonderful ancient site is a terrible, damning indictment upon the intellectual destitution of our compatriots.

Thanks to all those people who’ve taken time to stop and have a chat about the column. I am happy you have found it humorous and poignantly cutting.

I do adore irreverent satire. Of course, there is always bound to be a few sensitive souls, whose rather simplistic view of life is going to be offended. Tough shit, and long live Peter Cook and Lenny Bruce!