Call for Idyros from Zafer Party's Aslan: Science first, law first, public interest first

Zafer Party Head of Environment, Urbanization, and Cultural Policies Esmaül Hüsna Aslan has made a statement regarding the hotel project proposed in the vicinity of the Idyros Ancient City and Ayışığı Bay in the Kemer district of Antalya. Stating that decisions in the region must be made on the basis of "science, law, and public interest," Aslan issued a five-point call to the authorities.

At the center of the debate is a tourism investment planned on the former Club Med land adjacent to Ayışığı Bay. According to information reflected in the public domain, the usage rights for the publicly owned forest land, which is located within the borders of the Beydağları Coastal National Park, have been transferred to Özak GYO until 2068. It is stated that a hotel project with a 900-bed capacity is planned for the approximately 293 thousand square meter area.

The fact that the project area is intertwined with the archaeological heritage of the Idyros Ancient City has become one of the main topics of the debate. In the Idyros Ancient City Report published by the Antalya City Council Cultural Heritage Working Group on July 28, 2026, it was assessed that the cultural heritage is not limited to the land area but also continues into the sea.

It had been reported to the public that more than 190 archaeological drillings previously conducted in the region had identified a bath complex, bridge ruins, cisterns, and various other findings. In a previous assessment, the Association of Archaeologists had also argued that Idyros should be handled as a whole rather than in pieces.

The issue we are discussing here is not whether or not a hotel should be built. The real issue is whether the Republic of Turkey can protect its own coastline, forests, national parks, and thousands of years of cultural heritage against investment pressure.

Aslan stated that the state's duty is not to give up values such as coastlines, forests, national parks, and cultural heritage in the face of investments. Saying, "A city's coastline, forest, history, and cultural memory are not balance sheet items," Aslan emphasized that concreted coastlines and destroyed archaeological layers cannot be brought back later.

Another dimension of the debate involves construction activities during the tourism season. Under the practices of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, restrictions are imposed on heavy transport, excavation, and construction activities that could negatively affect tourism activities in tourist areas between May 15 and October 15. It was reported that the Kemer Municipality issued three separate reports regarding the project area in June and July; that administrative sanction decisions were taken regarding the reports dated June 10 and July 15, and that a third report was issued on July 22.

On the other hand, it is stated that with the decision of the Antalya Regional Board for the Protection of Cultural Assets dated June 23, 2026, a positive opinion was given for some temporary construction site units and electricity, water, and sewage infrastructure in the 3rd-degree archaeological site section within the allocated area, provided that it is under museum supervision. It is stated that this decision allows for certain applications in terms of archaeological site legislation, but does not end the debate regarding construction restrictions during the tourism season.

Aslan listed her demands regarding the Idyros Ancient City and its surroundings under five headings:

• 1. The results of all archaeological drillings conducted in the Idyros Ancient City and the project area, the cultural assets found, and expert reports must be fully disclosed to the public.
• 2. The integrity of the ancient city on land, along the coast, and underwater must be revealed through comprehensive archaeological studies involving independent scientists; site boundaries must be re-evaluated with scientific data.
• 3. Practices that could lead to irreversible consequences for cultural or natural heritage should be avoided until ongoing judicial processes and scientific examinations are completed.
• 4. Construction restrictions during the tourism season must be applied equally to everyone, regardless of the size of the investment; sanctions for violations must be made deterrent.
• 5. In investment decisions regarding coastlines, national parks, forest areas, and archaeological sites, public interest, carrying capacity, cultural heritage, and the rights of future generations should be prioritized over economic gain.

At the end of her statement, Aslan stated that Idyros is not just a matter for Kemer, saying, "Idyros is a test of how Turkey views its own history and land." Stating that coastlines, forests, and ancient cities are the "common assets of the nation," Aslan expressed that the path to be followed in Idyros is "science first, law first, public interest first."