In this weeks snippets we find out about a new 'holiday con hot line', early signs of spring, the theft of seeds worth their weight in gold and so called tax breaks for older cars.

Holiday Con Hot Line

The Governor of Muğla was in town this week for another meeting about the future of the Seki ski resort.

Whilst the report makes no mention of any resort-related conclusions from this meeting, it focuses instead on the Governor’s announcement of his new ‘197 Alo Vali’ telephone line.

Apparently the Governor (and remember this is the man with the fortuitous surname ‘Altıparmak ’ or ‘Sixfingers’) has had a survey carried out by a private research company which concluded that 70% of tourists visiting Muğla felt they had been conned during their stay.

He does not tell us who carried out the survey, exactly what numbers were involved or any detail on the nature of the ‘cons’.

However, because the Governor quite rightly says that the region will never grow its tourist numbers until sharp practice has been outlawed, he will be setting up a complaints phone line.

It will available 24 hours a day with English and Russian speakers on duty – he plans to increase the available languages in due course. 

Any complaints can be delivered by dialling 197 and saying ‘Alo Vali’.

We tested the line last Saturday and found it was unobtainable but we'll keep trying and let you know when it is up and running.

And, when it is, we'll maybe ring at 4am just so we can check it is really 24 hour!

Early Signs of Spring?

Anemones are in bloom three weeks early around Antalya and Manavgat – anyone sighted them in Kaya yet?

Golden Seeds Stolen

An agricultural supplier in Karaculha, Fethiye had his shop burgled, safe cracked open and, along with cash and cheques, the thieves took tomato seeds that are ‘worth their weight in gold’ according to the shop owner.

He had recently imported the seeds from Israel and the 120 packets stolen were worth around 15,000TL.

Beyond the means of Fethiye Times Gardening Club say we.

Car Tax Break only for the Old

Finally in a week when the Fethiye Times gas-fired Kartal gained a new Turkish MOT (you will read all about that shortly) the government announced it will cut taxes on new cars for buyers who exchange old models that would otherwise have been scrapped.

If that seems like a deal of the century you are wrong.

For some time it has been possible to trade in a car at least 20 years old and get tax benefits on the new one.

They now pushed the limit up to 30-year-old cars no doubt figuring the new MOT system will get rid of most old cars anyway. We shall see.