Customers of a beach restaurant in Bodrum, Turkey have immortalized the surreal addition they received. Because of the coronavirus crisis, some establishments located on private beaches or luxury hotels are trying to get out increasing prices. But customers saw red when they had to pay 48 euros for a doner kebab, 24 euros for a pita and 7.90 euros for a coffee, reports the Daily News.
In most restaurants in Bodrum, a doner kebab costs less than 3 euros. Following the controversy, Ahmet Aras, the mayor of Bodrum, gave a press conference on Sunday.
Addressing reporters, he said Bodrum was dependent on tourism for its income and was therefore “responsible for taking what he can out of the tourist’s pocket to the last penny“, Write the Daily Sabah.
“I don’t care if someone wants to pay a high price for a doner kebab. They can pay 100,000 TL (12,927 euros) if they want. But there are also places that sell doner for 20 TL (around 2.5 euros) here. Local businesses are already affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They can’t make ends meet“said Aras, before adding:”Of course, that doesn’t mean they have to overcharge their customers“.
The mayor noted that Bodrum is home to some of the wealthiest people in the world, from tycoons to kings, and that these guests expect “superior quality of service”. “You don’t have to go to this establishment, but they certainly have customers who will pay such a price. If Bodrum offers cheaper products, tourists who usually spend money here will spend it somewhere else – in Santorini or Ibiza, for example“, he said.
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