Operators enraged by ‘free beach use’ ruling

BEACH hotel operators were up in arms this week after a Girne court deemed that a 25-year-old law regulating what they can charge in old Turkish lira for the provision of sun loungers, showers and changing rooms was still applicable — suggesting they would have to provide the facilities effectively for free.

Girne District Court said beachgoers should be charged no more than 0.3 kuruş for each service, according to a 1993 law regulating the use of coasts.

The ruling was made following a year-long examination of an application lodged by two lawyers, Özgü Özkul Özyiğit and

Ahmet Said Saygın, against the privately-run Escape Beach Club.

It is understood that the initial fee of 3,000TL, set during a period of sky-high inflation and more than a decade before Turkey knocked six zeros off the lira, had remained unchanged since being written into law — meaning it was now equivalent to 0.3 kuruş in today’s money.

Ministers sent a notification to hoteliers via the Tourism Ministry’s hotel board following the court ruling, to remind them of the “constitutional and legal rights of beachgoers”.

While free access to the beach is a constitutional right, access is often controlled by hotel owners who demand fees, ostensibly for the use of facilities, of up to 50TL per person.

The practice has prompted a long-running campaign by activists to make the public aware of their rights.

Exasperated hotel owners this week criticised the May 7 ruling and said they would simply “reserve” facilities for hotel guests.

“We do respect the court rulings and people’s right to access the beaches free of charge, but paying 0.003TL for services? How is this possible?” said Hoteliers’ Union head Fethi Özboğaç, whose organisation represents some 105 members, around 70 per cent in the Girne area.

“If people are able to use sunbeds for less than 1TL, how are we supposed to provide services to our hotel customers?”

Mr Özboğaç said the ruling was a “heavy blow” and called on ministers to urgently amend the 1993 law — which says ministers cannot increase the fees by more than double the amount — so that prices could be brought to a more “realistic” level, and to make more beaches available.

Orhan Tolun, a member of the ministry’s Hotel Board who also heads the Cyprus Turkish Travel Agents’ Union, added: “The problem is mainly in Girne, which does not have enough public beaches. There are more in other towns like Gazimağusa, İskele and Güzelyurt.