While summer tourism boom is making its presence felt across Didim, one of the biggest recurring problems in the town is the congestion of vehicles.

Didim Chamber of Commerce Council member and tourism professional Hikmet Atilla, highlighting the traffic problems in the resort areas, warned vacationers: “To avoid potential problems in the resort areas, we should avoid using private vehicles whenever possible.”

The traffic problems are rising due to the frequent arrivals and departures of local and international tourists, as well as day trippers. The traffic congestion in Didim’s city center, along with the main boulevards and streets, and in the Altınkum area, negatively impacts daily life.

Side streets, vacant lots, and haphazard sidewalk parking, particularly in Altınkum, also negatively impact residents.

Atilla, who stated that the district’s parking lots should be used, pointed out that holidaymakers should avoid using vehicles as much as possible during their holidays.

He noted that Didim is a tourist destination and that urbanization has led to parking problems. He said: “In a residential city, parking spaces are allocated according to the population and vehicle count. As the city grows, the need for parking increases. This observation applies to areas that grow normally. The situation is completely different in Didim and similar tourist destinations.

“During the holiday high season, in July and August, the population and vehicle count in these places increase by 5-10 times the city’s normal population and number of motor vehicles, and parking shortages can become obvious.

“To avoid the problems that can occur in holiday areas, we should avoid using private vehicles whenever possible. These places are places where people go to rest, escape the stress of daily life, and rejuvenate their spirits. Holiday areas should be quiet, and pedestrian movement should not be restricted.”

He added: “Therefore, the number of vehicles in holiday destinations should be as low as possible. We need to protect Didim’s healthy air. One source of air pollution is harmful emissions from vehicle exhausts. The other is the motor footprint. If we say Didim is a healthy living city, then we must pay attention to its emissions and footprint.

“One of the essentials of a sustainable city, a smart city, and sustainable tourism is controlling the number of motorized vehicles and prioritizing non-motorized vehicles.

“We all see and experience empty parking spaces (and free ones) on streets and avenues, 1 km from the beach, and no more than 500 metres from the city center. In other words, areas with a high concentration of banks and businesses. We avoid parking there and complain because we couldn’t park our car 10 metres from our destination, or even in front of our door.”

He urged: “Future tourism prioritizes public transportation, so we must encourage it. Future tourism shows us the rail system, and there will come a time when a city with a population exceeding a certain number lacks a rail system, and tourists will not go there. We must prioritize the rail system.

“Future tourism requires a smart city, places where people can spend and appreciate their time, so we must prioritize parks, gardens, social, and cultural spaces. Future tourism demands smart parking spaces.”