Governor of Rize, Baydaş: ‘The intention here is to carry Ayder into the future’

Rize Governor Ihsan Selim Baydaş stated, ‘The intention here is to carry Ayder into the future’ in relation to Ayder Plateau. Urban transformation works in the world-famous tourism center Ayder Plateau, located at an altitude of 1350 meters in the Çamlıhemşin district of Rize, have come to an end. As the environmentally friendly parking lot for 1600 vehicles and the buildings constructed in harmony with the region’s architecture change the appearance of the plateau, there is no trace left of the concrete-covered old image of the plateau. Additionally, there is an increasing number of bungalows in the region. Some bungalows located within the Ardeşen district’s Fırtına Valley are being demolished due to either lacking a tourism certificate or being built illegally. Governor of Rize Ihsan Selim Baydaş held a meeting with tourism professionals in Ayder Plateau regarding the efforts to develop Rize’s tourism sector.’The intention here is to carry Ayder into the future’Governor Ihsan Selim Baydaş, stating that their goal is to preserve the beauty of Ayder Plateau for the future, said, ‘The intention here is to carry Ayder into the future. Just as we found this beauty, we aim to ensure that future generations can also experience this beauty properly in the coming years and centuries. We are working here and giving maximum importance to preservation. We are progressing on this path. Our meeting today aims to enrich this work through consultations. We have completed the parking lot but have just started the road construction. The process regarding the road will continue. We have completed the hotel section. We have demolished the structures that need to be transformed. That process will continue. The process regarding the facilities along the road will continue as well. Therefore, we want it to be completed as soon as possible within the available means, but new challenges will arise every day. We will come up with new solutions for each new issue and proceed through consultations. We are a city focused on tourism, and Ayder Plateau is one of the focal points of our focus. Thus, we aim to sustain tourism activities here in a healthy manner and also to transfer this place to future generations and centuries seamlessly.”Red line is defined as Fırtına River’Governor Baydaş expressed that they are working on removing the bungalows located within the Fırtına River, saying, ‘We have finalized the works for the removal of the bungalows located in the riverbed at the 50 points we initially identified. We initiated the process regarding the bungalows. We are conducting weeks-long and months-long preparation work. Firstly, we defined the Fırtına River as a red line. The removal process of those within the Fırtına River has been initiated by our district governors. We will carry out demolitions there. We see that our citizens will also comply with the limits and perform the demolitions themselves because we approach constructively. We say that a permit is required here. It must be subject to notification and taxation without fail. It must have a tourism operation license or permit. We will ask the owners of non-compliant structures to remove the structures themselves initially.”We need alternative tourism accommodation areas’Governor Baydaş emphasized the need for alternative tourism accommodation areas in Rize, saying, ‘We are a city focused on tourism. We need accommodation places, but we must provide this with licensed buildings. We must provide this with taxed buildings. We must provide this with controlled structures and, most importantly, structures that have no negative impact on the environment, with environmental effects eliminated. We cannot tolerate structures that dump waste into rivers, avoid taxes, are not in compliance with zoning regulations, and lack tourism certificates. We are in favor of resolving this mutually through understanding and negotiation. We are making notifications, and we see that our citizens are approaching this constructively. I repeatedly say the same thing. We need alternative tourism accommodation areas. But they must be taxed, licensed, have tourism certificates, and be official. Tourism activities will advance in this area, and we will be constructive in this area. We will make efforts as the bureaucracy to facilitate citizens in obtaining permits in this regard and entering the tax structure of cultural tourism. We see that our citizens are by our side in this matter and will continue to stand by us. We will continue to support them so that tourism in our city can develop in a healthy manner.’