10.07.2024 10:20
The sharing of actress Begüm Öner, stating that holidays in the Greek islands are half as cheap as in Turkey, has become a topic of discussion. Ali Uçar, the President of the Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce, said that the majority of those who prefer the Greek islands go there for visa purposes and to buy alcohol at a cheaper price from duty-free shops upon their return. He said, "When someone drinks raki in our country, they change their glass and ashtray. But there, they give bread and fork in a basket and no one bothers them until they leave the plate."
The comparison of prices between Bodrum and the Greek island of Samos by actress Begüm Öner has become a trending topic on social media. Begüm Öner stated that in Turkey, four people would have to pay 5,000 TL for a menu including shrimp, calamari, and octopus, while the same menu would cost 1,500 TL in Samos, Greece. In response to Begüm Öner's statement, business owners in Bodrum, Ayvalık, Didim, Çeşme, and other holiday resorts stated that their prices were not exaggerated as much as claimed. Ali Uçar, who commented on the issue to haberler.com, emphasized that going to the Greek islands was not only about vacation. Uçar stated that the cheap alcohol in the Greek islands was due to lower taxes. Uçar said, "When you go to a restaurant here, they change the glass and ashtray every time someone drinks raki. But there, they give you bread and cutlery in a basket and no one comes to the table until you leave."
Photo: AA THEY DON'T GO TO THE GREEK ISLANDS ONLY FOR SEA, SAND, AND FUN Ali Uçar, the Mayor of Ayvalık, also mentioned the crossings to the Greek islands, stating that 105,000 people went to Lesbos in this way last year. Ali Uçar stated that during the Ramadan and Eid al-Adha holidays, more than 20,000 people crossed to Lesbos and said the following:
"There are various reasons for crossing to the Greek islands, mostly to Lesbos. Some people do this to activate their Schengen visa and show an exit from the country, due to its proximity to Istanbul. There are no long-term stays. Our goal is to encourage those who go there to come to Ayvalık and make transfers from there. Last year, 35,000 people came here after returning from Lesbos. These situations will become more prominent over time. If the Euro increases from 35 TL to 45 TL and the foreign travel tax increases from 150 TL to 1500 TL, this business will stop. Last year, some people went to buy and register phones, and 70-80% of the ferries went for registering mobile phones. Don't think that everyone who goes there goes for sea, sand, and fun. Some people go there to get a visa from the Greek Consulate and activate it."
President of Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce Ali Uçar ALCOHOL IS CHEAPER THERE BECAUSE TAXES ARE NOT LIKE OURS Uçar, who said that alcohol is cheap there and that some people go there for duty-free shopping, continued, "You pay 80 euros for a visa at the border, then you leave and pay port fees. This is not much of an advantage. Alcohol is cheap there, and there are no taxes like ours. They write that they drank a 20-euro bottle of uzou and our tax alone is more than 10 euros. Our costs are high, and when you look at it, personnel, business, and rental costs have increased for businesses."
Photo: AA SERVICE QUALITY IN TURKEY IS BETTER THAN IN THE GREEK ISLANDS Ali Uçar stated that the service in hotels and restaurants in Turkey is of higher quality compared to the Greek islands, saying, "In the Greek islands, there are mostly family-run businesses, with the father at the cash register, the mother in the kitchen, and the children serving. There is no quality service like ours. Prices in Turkey remain high compared to there, region by region. In Cunda Island, we provide a price list, and prices in restaurants with high-quality service are different from other restaurants. When you go to a restaurant here, they change the glass and ashtray every time someone drinks raki. But there, they give you bread and cutlery in a basket, and no one comes to the table until you leave."
Begüm Öner ACTRESS BEGÜM ÖNER: PRICES IN SAMOS ARE HALF THE PRICE Actress Begüm Öner made a statement on social media the other day. Öner stated that the Greek islands are cheaper than Turkey and said the following:
"Prices in Bodrum are really terrifying. After Bodrum, we went to Samos, and the prices were half the price. If you eat shrimp, calamari, and octopus, you cannot pay less than 5,000 TL in Turkey, but it can go up to 1,500 TL in Samos. You don't have to pay for sunbeds, and there is no beach fee. These are sad because everyone needs a vacation."