Antalya officials crack down on illegal takeovers of public spaces

In Manavgat, the Gündoğdu public beach has been occupied since 2025 by the Manavgat Side Tourist Hotelers Union (MASTOB) president Zafer Süral, who installed a cafeteria, water dispensers and furniture and claimed to manage the area. Residents protested, dismantling the equipment and demanding that the municipality restore public access. Deputy mayor Mehmet Çiçek remained silent, prompting accusations of negligence.

Meanwhile, in the Kepez district of Antalya, municipal police carried out shock inspections to clear sidewalk occupations. Authorities seized tables and chairs that a shop owner had loaded onto a trailer, and cut a chain‑bound advertising trailer attached to a tree with a welding tool before confiscating it. The offenders were fined under the Administrative Penalties Law.

Both incidents illustrate local authorities confronting unauthorized commercial use of public beaches and streets in Antalya, leading to public protests and enforcement actions.