The historic city of Side, located in the town of Manavgat in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, has had its hotels at 70 percent capacity in the last days of October. While this density keeps local tradesmen happy, beggars flocking to the historic city are disrupting the mood.

  The tradesmen of Side are very happy with the tourist rush that started at the end of September. The major beach of the historic city is full with tourists, who are enjoying the summer-like days, with the heat climbing up to 30 degrees. Cengiz Haydar Barut, president of the Side Tourism Community, or TUDER, said the occupancy rate of Side´s hotels climbed 20 percent and the arrivals 40 percent compared to last year.

  Meanwhile, beggars are rushing into Side, which approximately 15,000 tourists visit each year. Beggars dwelling in the antique theater of Side, the Centrum, docks and the Temple of Apollo have frustrated both tourists and local tradesmen. Tradesmen in the tourism industry want these beggars stopped from harassing the tourists into giving them money and deported from the city.

  A tourist guide, Sue Savaþ, said most of the tourists attending their tours to Side are complaining about beggars´ harassment and demanding the tourist areas to be swept clean of beggars. “At the end of each season, we make formal complaints to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as professional guides, with no results” Savaþ added.

   Osman Delikulak, mayor of Side, complained the fines are not a deterrent and claimed the beggars they deport outside of the city by bus come back in luxury vehicles with their lawyers present. “We deported more than 300 beggars since the season´s start,” he said.

Source: http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=119077

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There are beggars everywhere - especially on the otogars of (big) cities, I can´t remember there were so many more in Side and surroundings. Do you agree that they should be deported out of town? Or....?

I have recently returned from a trip to Side and Cappadocia and the only beggar I saw was a harmless old lady sitting by the gate at the entrance to Side old town.

 There were plenty Muslim women begging in Paris, Ðso perhaps they are all there?  But these women looked so sad and I bet my bottom dolar they were being run by men.

Deporting is a bit radical measure, better social aid would be my first choice.

But, from the expirience with beggars in my country - they, themselves, struggle strongly against any help, because they earn unbelievable amounts of money daily.