Good press for Kalkan

[suziq]

My husband and I have been coming to Kalkan and other parts of Turkey for 17 years. We do not own a property and have no vested interests in any business. We spent 8 weeks over the Winter in Kalkan and could see how worried the local businesses were and how hard they were working to try to make things ready for the season. I just hope this season does not prove too difficult for them.

We will be returning this year and will continue to return until we are officially told it is unsafe. We have friends and family who think we are mad but I can honestly say I feel safer in Turkey than I do in London, any big city or even driving on  the roads. It is an awful shame if the terrorists win and prevent people from doing what they want to do. Life is too short.

[Joeyloveskalkan]

Just like to echo what Suziq has to say.  We do not have any property in Kalkan but can't stop coming back year after year.

I was due to go on holiday shortly after 9/11 and my friend asked was I still going.  Of course I was, if I had cancelled then the terrorists would have won.

I am sorry for the lady caught up in one of the IRA bombings, but those of us who are a little older did live through the threat day in and day out, no matter where we lived in the country.  We still went about our daily business.  No one is going to stop me going on my holiday unless as Suziq says we are officially told it is unsafe to do so.

[Babs]

As you know I'm firmly in the "life's too short camp"!
I don't think for one minute that MartynE meant to offend he was simply being factual.
We visited America shortly after 9/11 and on numerous occasions were thanked by locals for still choosing to visit their country.
I was brought up with constant IRA bomb scares in Liverpool and lived in London at the height of the troubles.
Unless I am told officially that a place isn't safe I will continue to visit. However I also think everyone should make their own decisions without thinking they may be criticised.

[MartynE]

Thank you, Babs. I certainly don't mean to offend anyone but I do believe in telling it like it is, and it has nothing to do with whether or not I own properties in Kalkan. It is the principle of giving in to terrorists that I object to.

By the way, I do have some credentials in this regard, in case anyone thinks it's easy for me to just talk the talk. As a pro musician in the late seventies (November 1979, actually) I was lead guitarist for Chairman of The Board and we were booked to play in Belfast for a week.  We had to stay in the Europa hotel - at the time, that was the most bombed hotel in Europe. We were aware of this but still elected to go... and we were unanimous in that decision. The reaction from the locals was fabulous, because most performers cried off and they were starved of live music.

Sure enough there was a bomb scare when we were there - but we were fine, thanks to the very brave security forces who defused the bomb.

Were we scared? Yes, too right! But did we regret the decision? Never. Not when we saw the grateful faces of the audience. (We did regret the hangovers though... boy, those guys can drink...)

[ScotsinKalkan]

We are owners and we have about 75% of the bookig we had last year so far and would expect some more. As we have some weeks free it means I get an extra week  ! So coming out soon with some Turkey and Kalkan first timers who are not the least bit put off by the possibly of any trouble, terrorism or the like. More danger in many other places and got to live life to the max!

[BeyazGül Apt.]

We have the same bookings as last year and the guest's include two guest's who have never been to Turkey before and one a Kalkan first time. 

[kalkan4eva]

I think we have to allow people to make their own choices - whether that's through fear that others may deem irrational or based on their own experiences. We of course are coming to Kalkan, but for the first time ever we are wary. I don't really care about the stats regarding the safest form of travel, I'm a poor flyer - it doesn't stop me from getting on a plane but I spend the entire flight waiting for something catastrophic to happen. Now I have to throw into the mix suicidal pilots and terrorism. My BH is more alert to a terrorist attack whilst we are on the ground....as I say it doesnt stop us from traveling to not only Turkey, but other parts of the world and, of course throughout the UK - after all we live in a country on high alert. If people feel so concerned that they no longer want to travel to Turkey, its absolutely their choice and its not for us to persuade them otherwise. Their fear is very real to them and we shouldn't dismiss it because we dont agree.

[Trotter]

I totally agree that people should be allowed to make their own decisions on whether to travel and not be condemned if they decide not to.
My wife and I love Kalkan, as do most people on this site, and would normally visit for two weeks @ the end of September but as yet are undecided for this year. It is not the risks of terrorist attacks which makes us hesitant, as k4e says this can happen anywhere and we travel quite often, but worry about the effect on Kalkan if large numbers of people stay at home\go elsewhere. One of the delights of Kalkan for us is the ambience around the town and in the restaurants. It would be sad if this were lost due to lack of numbers. However recent comments from owners about the numbers of bookings do appear to be more promising and hopefully this trend will continue despite the EgyptAir tragedy. The cause of this is yet to be confirmed of course but the signs are not good.

[Kalkan Magic]

Guests of ours have just returned and thought Kalkan was relatively busy for May. I definitely think there will still be a lovely atmosphere, v chilled as it was when we were there four weeks ago. Go again on 6 June and are counting the days! 😀🕶☀️

[MartynE]

Yes Sue, Fiona and I both thought it was actually busier than usual for May, believe it or not. And enquiries are really coming in now, so it's looking extremely promising after a very slow start

[Alex]

I know this isn't near to Kalkan but it wont help matters..............



https://www.rt.com/news/348735-explosion-atatukr-reports-injured/

[kalkan4eva]

Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the injured. Shocking news....