Latest news with #Aegeansea
Kuwait Times
06-08-2025
- Climate
- Kuwait Times
Water shortages spell trouble on Turkey's coast
ÇESME, Turkey: Ali Alyanak and his neighbors in Turkey's tourist hub Izmir now have to draw water from a shrinking aquifer 170 meters underground even as hotel pools remain full — a sign for many of the region's dire water crisis amid prolonged drought. 'Our parents used to draw water from a depth of eight to nine meters, but now we have to go down to 170 meters (560 feet),' said Alyanak, the 39-year-old village chief in Germiyan. To cope, authorities in nearby Cesme, a popular seaside resort in Izmir province on Turkey's western coast, are restricting drinking water access to 10 hours a day. The city of Izmir itself, Turkey's third largest, will cut that access to just six hours starting Wednesday. Desolate images from the large nearby dam that supplies Cesme, widely broadcast on television, illustrated the risks for the region: its water level has plunged to three percent of capacity, leaving behind a barren landscape. For Alyanak and many others, the culprit is clear. 'Hotels are the main problem: The water in the pools evaporates, towels are washed daily and people take three to five showers a day, as soon as they go swimming or come back from outside,' Alyanak fumed. 'It's a waste' Climatologists say the Mediterranean basin — which concentrates 30 percent of world tourism — will see a sharp decline in rainfall over the coming decades, raising fears of more frequent and severe droughts as a result of global warming. The almost complete absence of rainfall since autumn is largely responsible for the current crisis, with some scientists calculating that 88 percent of Turkey's territory is at risk of desertification. Last week, mosque loudspeakers across Turkey issued prayers for rain. But experts also highlight the impact of tens of thousands of visitors, which is putting pressure on tourism hotspots throughout the Mediterranean. Selma Akdogan of the Izmir Chamber of Environmental Engineers said tourists consumed 'two to three times' more water than locals. This at a time when 'water levels are falling not only in summer but also in winter', she said, noting that 'Rainfall is less regular but more intense, making it more difficult for the soil to absorb rainwater.' She wants local authorities to have hotels fill their swimming pools with seawater, for example, and for locals to give up lawns and grass in favor of less water-intensive yards. At the helm of a luxury 253-room establishment overlooking the turquoise waters of the Aegean sea, Orhan Belge has little patience for the media focus on the issue. 'Big four- or five-star hotels like ours have water tanks of 200-250 tons. We have water 24 hours a day,' said Belge, who is also president of the city's hoteliers' union. For him, the solution to water shortages lies mainly in desalination, a costly and energy-intensive process already used by some hotels in the region. The manager of a small hotel in the city, who asked to remain anonymous, acknowledged that 'water shortages are a real problem,' but said he was primarily worried that use restrictions would prompt tourists to look elsewhere. 'Last summer, we were fully booked during the same period. And we were still full two weeks ago,' he said. 'Now, the hotel is 80 percent empty and we have no reservations for August.' Sabiha Yurtsever, an 80-year-old retiree who has spent every summer in Cesme for the past 25 years, said she could not remember a summer so dry. She blamed both the government and hoteliers for making the region unlivable. 'When forests burn, they build hotels instead of replanting,' said Yurtsever, who spends the rest of the year in Izmir. 'The fewer trees you have, the less rain you will get.' –AFP
Int'l Business Times
05-08-2025
- Climate
- Int'l Business Times
Water Shortages Spell Trouble On Turkey's Tourist Coast
Ali Alyanak and his neighbours in Turkey's tourist hub Izmir now have to draw water from a shrinking aquifer 170 metres underground even as hotel pools remain full -- a sign for many of the region's dire water crisis amid prolonged drought. "Our parents used to draw water from a depth of eight to nine metres, but now we have to go down to 170 metres (560 feet)," said Alyanak, the 39-year-old village chief in Germiyan. To cope, authorities in nearby Cesme, a popular seaside resort in Izmir province on Turkey's western coast, are restricting drinking water access to 10 hours a day. The city of Izmir itself, Turkey's third largest, will cut that access to just six hours starting Wednesday. Desolate images from the large nearby dam that supplies Cesme, widely broadcast on television, illustrated the risks for the region: its water level has plunged to three percent of capacity, leaving behind a barren landscape. For Alyanak and many others, the culprit is clear. "Hotels are the main problem: The water in the pools evaporates, towels are washed daily and people take three to five showers a day, as soon as they go swimming or come back from outside," Alyanak fumed. "It's a waste". Climatologists say the Mediterranean basin -- which concentrates 30 percent of world tourism -- will see a sharp decline in rainfall over the coming decades, raising fears of more frequent and severe droughts as a result of global warming. The almost complete absence of rainfall since autumn is largely responsible for the current crisis, with some scientists calculating that 88 percent of Turkey's territory is at risk of desertification. Last week, mosque loudspeakers across Turkey issued prayers for rain. But experts also highlight the impact of tens of thousands of visitors, which is putting pressure on tourism hotspots throughout the Mediterranean. Selma Akdogan of the Izmir Chamber of Environmental Engineers said tourists consumed "two to three times" more water than locals. This at a time when "water levels are falling not only in summer but also in winter", she said, noting that "Rainfall is less regular but more intense, making it more difficult for the soil to absorb rainwater." She wants local authorities to have hotels fill their swimming pools with seawater, for example, and for locals to give up lawns and grass in favour of less water-intensive yards. At the helm of a luxury 253-room establishment overlooking the turquoise waters of the Aegean sea, Orhan Belge has little patience for the media focus on the issue. "Big four- or five-star hotels like ours have water tanks of 200-250 tonnes. We have water 24 hours a day," said Belge, who is also president of the city's hoteliers' union. For him, the solution to water shortages lies mainly in desalination, a costly and energy-intensive process already used by some hotels in the region. The manager of a small hotel in the city, who asked to remain anonymous, acknowledged that "water shortages are a real problem," but said he was primarily worried that use restrictions would prompt tourists to look elsewhere. "Last summer, we were fully booked during the same period. And we were still full two weeks ago," he said. "Now, the hotel is 80 percent empty and we have no reservations for August." Sabiha Yurtsever, an 80-year-old retiree who has spent every summer in Cesme for the past 25 years, said she could not remember a summer so dry. She blamed both the government and hoteliers for making the region unliveable. "When forests burn, they build hotels instead of replanting," said Yurtsever, who spends the rest of the year in Izmir. "The fewer trees you have, the less rain you will get." 'Hotels are the main problem,' says Ali Alyanak, who lives in a village in Izmir, Turkey's tourist hub AFP Many hotel operators in Izmir say desalination, a costly and energy-intensive process, could ease pressure on water resources AFP
TTG
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TTG
Why Domes Zeen Chania might just be Crete's coolest secret
Seamlessly combining family-friendly sophistication with laid-back romantic appeal in an enviable location, Domes Zeen Chania is a Cretan escape with enticing new developments for this summer. Overlooking the Aegean sea, just minutes from Chania's vibrant old town, Domes Zeen Chania has something for all ages and offers a rare balance of boho-chic luxury and cultural immersion, making it one of Crete's most versatile five-star stays. With its recent Michelin Key recognition, Montessori-inspired kids' club, and the new Zamana Beach Club, this design-led escape is an ideal option for agents keen to increase bookings in the luxury and family sectors and for repeat visitors to Greece. A new beach scene Fusing Cretan culture with cosmopolitan flair, Zamana Beach Club is new for 2025, bringing a laid-back yet elite coastal hotspot to Chania. Blending in with Domes Zeen Chania's earthy tones and boho-chic design, the space flows from beach bar and daybeds to a restaurant and laid-back lounge open to both resort guests and discerning locals. Here, mindful Mediterranean playlists set the tone for immersive culinary experiences – diners can enjoy Cretan menus infused with subtle Japanese and Mexican influences. This new venue is a great talking point for agents who can highlight it to clients before word gets out. Sell it: Zamana Beach Club is opening soon for the 2025 summer season, so use it to upsell the resort to honeymooners, couples or clients who love a curated beach scene.
