05.07.2026 08:50
In Akyaka, a popular holiday resort in Muğla, a sign reading "500 TL for non-customer use" hung on a business's restroom door caused a huge uproar on social media. While the young people's astonishment at the exorbitant fee and their humorous dialogue, saying "Lend me 500 TL, I'll go in," were captured on camera, this incident reignited debates over uncontrolled price hikes in vacation areas and businesses' "deterrent" policies.
A very interesting addition has been made to the frequently discussed exorbitant price debates in Turkey's tourism regions recently. However, this time the topic of discussion is not a restaurant menu or beach entrance fee; it is the toilet usage fee of a business. Young people who went to a place in the Akyaka neighborhood of Muğla's Ula district recorded the scene they encountered with their mobile phone cameras, revealing the situation.
"LEND ME 500 TL, I'LL ENTER"
In the footage, a paper hung on the business's toilet door contains the following phrases written in capital letters: "Toilet use by non-customers is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Usage fee: '500 TL'"
The tragicomic dialogue among the young people, who could not hide their astonishment at this scene, was also captured on camera. When the person filming showed the situation and said, "If you're not a customer, you pay 500 lira," the woman responded with a smile and joked, "Would you give 500 lira? Lend me 500, I'll go in," surprising and amusing viewers. The note attached to the video, "The business that put the final touch on price hikes," clearly revealed the irony of the situation.
DETERRENCE OR PROFITEERING?
Especially in holiday resorts where the population multiplies during summer months, businesses often resort to such "deterrent" signs to prevent heavy external usage and maintain cleanliness. However, the 500 TL fee set for toilet use was described by social media users as "disproportionate" and "profiteering" rather than deterrence.