Turkey's caravan boom sparks parking bans and calls for regulation

Turkish manufacturer Ortsan Outdoors offers the Mini House caravan, which is compact while driving (4 m long, 2.1 m wide) and expands on site via fold-out walls, reaching a floor area of 20.4 sq m. The model has been on sale since 2021 and is continuously improved. Standard equipment includes a two-burner gas stove, stainless steel sink, 90 L compressor fridge, 200 L water tank, 470 W solar panel, and 200 Ah battery. Price starts at €16,700.

A Dutch family traveling by caravan from Austria through Italy and Greece visited Acıgöl and Meke Lake in Karapınar (Konya). They highlighted the high salt content of Acıgöl, which makes swimming easier, and called Meke Lake 'one of the most impressive places.' The trip will continue in Aladağlar National Park, Cappadocia, and the Black Sea region.

The Kozlu Municipality in Zonguldak has sent official notices to caravan owners, demanding the removal of their vehicles from coastal areas within three days. The document, signed by Deputy Mayor Erkut Alacalı, states that camping with caravans and tents is prohibited on Kozlu Beach, Değirmenağzı, and Ilıksu Beach facilities except for municipally organized events. Failure to comply will result in administrative penalties.

Authorities in Uşak, Turkey, have started forced evacuation of caravans from the Karaağaç Pond area. Owners were ordered to remove their vehicles by 10:00 AM, or they would be towed away. Gendarmerie units are overseeing the operation. Caravan owners report a lack of alternative parking sites and are calling for a regulated caravan zone.

A new caravan park, Çökertme Tekila (Tequila), has opened in Çökertme Bay on the Aegean coast. The park provides pitches for motorhomes with electricity and water hookups, as well as tent camping areas. It also features a restaurant serving Aegean cuisine. The park targets tourists traveling by motorhome or tent and is located near Bodrum and Milas.

Motorhome owners in Kozlu, Zonguldak, are protesting the local administration's decision to remove them from the coastline without offering an alternative parking area. They demand a designated motorhome park with infrastructure, similar to other Turkish cities, and argue the ban undermines tourism potential.