Now that Turkey is coming out of lockdown, Demir says the town is bustling again. One main difference, he says, is where people are staying. “People are not entirely trusting of hotels,” he says, “preferring to rent houses instead.” According to Demir, house rental prices have doubled because of the demand.

Demir says that hotels have been given opportunities not given to beach clubs in order to boost their occupancy rates, such as being able to remain open during the latest lockdown when there was a university entrance exam throughout Turkey, when other establishments were not.

Demir tells TRT World that people spend more time at their houses this summer, preferring to stay in at night. He says when the lockdown was first lifted the curfew was 10pm, then it became 11pm, and now it is 12 midnight. Demir points out that up until the first week of June, there had been little to no activity in Alacati.

Demir says some establishments have opened late for the summer, and some have not opened at all. “For example,” he says, “the legendary clubs Sole & Mare and Paparazzi, that are built on wooden platforms and not beaches, have decided to remain closed.” 

In past summers, clubs within town limits could stay open until 1am and those outside til 3am. Now the cutoff is midnight for both.

According to Demir, coronavirus precautions are taken seriously in Alacati town, where wearing a mask is obligatory and not wearing one is likely to result in a fine. He says he cannot say the same for the beaches.

“We have trained our staff, we have free disinfectant available, we take the temperature of everyone coming in, we ask our guests to wear a mask, but everyone seems to be much more  relaxed about the coronavirus,” he says. He finds it dangerous that visitors still demand valet service, for example, but emphasises that social distancing measures are carried out throughout the beach.

Sen says Turkish vacationers have arrived at Alacati, and the town centre and surfing areas are quite dynamic. ASPC, Sen tells TRT World, opened on June 1st and is popular as usual. The centre offers windsurf lessons to both adults and children, as well as rentals, kitesurfing, basketball, and cross fit classes.

Sen says all personnel have been taking precautions against the epidemic, wearing masks, using disinfectant regularly, practicing social distancing and disinfecting the premises and the equipment on a regular basis.

“We’re the only surfing establishment with thermal cameras,” he tells TRT World. “We jot down the ID numbers of all our students, and make sure to take their temperatures as they enter. If anybody measures a high temperature, we make them sit in the shade for an hour, and remeasure.”