Tourists seem to be good people, people with money to spend β that's how I see it. They're friendly, and they don't usually make a mess. I think many more tourists should come to our city.
Since they started coming, special events get organised for them, including things that interest our community too β like a market recently, mostly selling Turkish products. Things tourists and day-trippers enjoy. If not so many people came to our area, that market simply wouldn't have happened.
It's nice seeing people around you enjoying life, going out β it lifts my own mood too. And with more people, we've gotten more amenities, like the swimming pool we now have in town. As a Turkish foundation, we don't benefit hugely from tourism ourselves, but they're friendly people and I like having them here.
I've seen many more foreign shops open in the last few years, and they're open much longer now too. That gives you a lot more freedom to get your things done.
What I do regret is that it's become a lot busier β more cars, and sometimes you really have to watch yourself crossing the street. I'm also not happy that young people have become more headstrong and less respectful of their elders; I don't know if that's connected to tourism, but we try hard to teach our children differently. I see tourists as guests, and mostly older guests at that, who deserve to be treated especially well.
Hospitality has been central to our way of life for centuries. In Turkey, you can knock on almost any door, and if you say you come "on behalf of God" β TanrΔ± misafiri β you'll be invited in. Every house keeps a guest room, spare blankets, spare mattresses. I like having guests; it makes me proud. Dutch people often aren't sure how to respond to that kind of welcome β but the only thing a Turk really expects in return is respect.
A city grown busier, and a host who still finds room for one more guest.