Tourists relish skiing Turkey's southeast Hakkari slopes
HAKKARI, Turkey - A large number of tourists from Turkey and beyond have flocked to the Kurdish mountainous region of Hakkari province (Colemerg), southeastern Turkey for skiing.
Many tourists travel to the spot daily through tourism company tours.
About 20 kilometers outside of Hakkari city center, the Hakkari Mergabut Ski Resort is located at an altitude of 2,800 meters on the Merga Butan Highlands.
"Today we have brought about 40 tourists to this ski resort including people from Gever, Semdinli, Van, and Sirnak," Erdinc Duzen, owner of a tourism company told Rudaw. "They have come to visit this place. This is a beautiful place... that's why we bring tourists here."
The resort contains all the necessary facilities for tourists to enjoy their holidays, including a hotel and a shopping center.
"We came as a family. We saw many high and snow-covered mountains on the way," said Meryem Karadag, a tourist, describing the snow-capped mountains in Hakkari as being "truly magnificent."
"Everywhere is beautiful here," she said. "It is very interesting for us."
Despite describing the ski resort as an important tool to boost the economy of the region, some tourists complain that the spot is not easily accessible due to the narrow, poorly-built roads.
"After a long time, something like that was opened. It is important for our people. It is also important for tourism. We are happy to have such a resort. It's also free to enter. But there are some shortcomings; the road is far, and the services are few," Murat Ciftci, another tourist said, adding that "Not everyone can come easily. It is not an easily accessible location."
The resort has two ski tracks, stretching 1,800 meters and 1,200 meters, respectively. The tracks are located at an altitude of 3,500 meters, and are connected by four different cable cars.
Many tourists travel to the spot daily through tourism company tours.
About 20 kilometers outside of Hakkari city center, the Hakkari Mergabut Ski Resort is located at an altitude of 2,800 meters on the Merga Butan Highlands.
"Today we have brought about 40 tourists to this ski resort including people from Gever, Semdinli, Van, and Sirnak," Erdinc Duzen, owner of a tourism company told Rudaw. "They have come to visit this place. This is a beautiful place... that's why we bring tourists here."
The resort contains all the necessary facilities for tourists to enjoy their holidays, including a hotel and a shopping center.
"We came as a family. We saw many high and snow-covered mountains on the way," said Meryem Karadag, a tourist, describing the snow-capped mountains in Hakkari as being "truly magnificent."
"Everywhere is beautiful here," she said. "It is very interesting for us."
Despite describing the ski resort as an important tool to boost the economy of the region, some tourists complain that the spot is not easily accessible due to the narrow, poorly-built roads.
"After a long time, something like that was opened. It is important for our people. It is also important for tourism. We are happy to have such a resort. It's also free to enter. But there are some shortcomings; the road is far, and the services are few," Murat Ciftci, another tourist said, adding that "Not everyone can come easily. It is not an easily accessible location."
The resort has two ski tracks, stretching 1,800 meters and 1,200 meters, respectively. The tracks are located at an altitude of 3,500 meters, and are connected by four different cable cars.