Russian tourists holidaying in Alanya, Turkey, are increasingly complaining about the environmental situation and high levels of microplastic pollution along the resort city coast.
Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported the issue, citing Aslan Mustafa Kyldoner, a travel agent and tourism sector representative in Alanya. Kyldoner stressed that sea currents wash most of the waste ashore. He explained that experts visited the region and linked the pollution to imported plastic waste, heavy workloads at plastic recycling enterprises in Adana and Mersin provinces, and unusually heavy rainfall that carried pollutants into the sea.
Environmental Threats and August Tourism
Kyldoner said he personally receives complaints from Russian tourists and that the number of grievances is growing. He added that the pollution threatens the entire Mediterranean region and could cause an outflow of holidaymakers. Despite the beach conditions in Alanya, Turkey and Egypt became the most popular destinations for Russian travelers in August.
