‘Welcome to Plastic Resort’: Russian Travel Blogger Slams Turkey’s Beaches

A Russian travel blogger has sparked a heated discussion after describing Turkey’s famous Mediterranean beaches as a “plastic resort.” In a post on her personal blog, ‘See It With Your Own Eyes,’ she painted a grim picture of coastlines in Antalya, Kemer, and Konyaaltı, calling the scene an “ecological thriller.”

According to the blogger, what was once a paradise for sun-seekers has turned into a floating dump. She noted that early morning swims are still bearable, but by afternoon, the water becomes clogged with bottle caps, labels, and shredded packaging. “It doesn’t smell like sea breeze—it smells like a landfill,” she wrote, adding that fellow Russian tourists on all-inclusive holidays have confirmed the same.

Locals are trying to fight back. The beach at Çıralı, for example, gets cleaned regularly, but the trash returns daily. The blogger suspects commercial ships are dumping waste offshore. She also took a swipe at beachgoers: “Last time, I complained about people burying cigarette butts in the sand. Now they’ve added a plastic salad to the decor. Honestly, after this, Mumbai’s beach doesn’t look so bad—at least the current carries the garbage out to sea. Here, it lands right at your feet.”