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Travelers heading to Turkey's popular coastal destinations will soon need to be aware of new regulations regarding smoking on beaches. As of June 5th، smoking is now completely prohibited on beaches in Antalya.

Restricted Zones

Initially، these new rules will apply to four well-known beaches: Lara، Belek، Çamyuva، and Beach Park. These areas are currently managed by Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. However، authorities are considering expanding these 'smoke-free zones' in the future.

Reasons Behind the Ban

This decision follows research conducted by Akdeniz University، which revealed an alarmingly high concentration of cigarette butts on the seabed. Ebru Şahin، the project coordinator، stated that cigarette waste poses a significant threat to the marine ecosystem.

"Initially، what we thought were marine organisms or sponges in the underwater photos turned out to be cigarette waste،" Şahin explained. The initiative aims to safeguard marine flora and fauna، while also ensuring cleaner and more pleasant environments for families with children.

Future Plans

This move is part of Antalya's broader environmental strategy. The city is also installing free drinking water stations and expanding its network of recycling containers to reduce single-use plastic consumption.

The Turkish Ministry of Health supports this initiative، and a draft law to increase the number of public places where smoking is banned across the country is reportedly in its final stages of approval.

Turkey has an ambitious goal to completely halt the sale of tobacco products within its borders by 2040.

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