Turkey’s strict measures against the coronavirus outbreak make it one of the rare destinations in its region for tourists. For foreign expats who call the country home, the measures have been effective enough to extend their stay.
In Muğla, home to a large expat population and towns wildly popular among tourists from Europe, expats feel safe amid the pandemic thanks to restrictions ranging from curfews to mandatory mask-wearing and measures to ensure social distancing.
Foreign nationals living in Bodrum, the most famous district of Muğla with its pristine beaches, say they do not want to return to their home countries due to the pandemic and welcome services provided and measures adopted in the context of fighting against the virus. Bodrum is already popular among Turkish holidaymakers who decided to extend their stay well into the winter months due to the infection risk in big cities.
British citizen Dawn Marshall, a 60-year-old mother of four and grandmother of six, was fascinated by the beauty of the town and decided to settle there 16 years ago. A retired advertiser, Marshall said she was in the United Kingdom along with her husband when the COVID-19 outbreak first erupted there and the situation looked dire. The couple returned to Turkey later on and felt much safer as most of the people there paid attention to measures such as wearing masks and social distancing. Marshall said she appreciated the restrictions and measures and she would never think of leaving Turkey, which has become her second home. Her husband, Norman, 69, said things were going smoothly in Turkey and his friends were also satisfied with measures taken by local authorities in the district.
