These take place around 4pm between July 20th and late September. Hatchlings emerge from their nest at night and depending on the status of the nest after hatching we make a decision that day about inviting visitors to a public nest excavation. So for these, visitors need to call the Goat Shed on the day (phone number: +905338725350) or check the Facebook page for notifications.
The importance and value of sea turtles as tourist attractions and as a component of the tourism product of many destinations around the world is increasing as the tourism industry seeks to enrich the traditional “sun, sea, and sand” experience. North Cyprus is no exception to this. The SPOT Alagadi Conservation Centre is now in it’s third decade and in recent years we estimate that around 5000 foreign tourists visit Alagadi each year to watch turtles.
Whilst presenting marine turtles to visitors in a controlled and sustainable way, SPOT is able to sustain itself financially through donations which visitors leave, whilst supporting local and national economies, which in turn support the project. The annual turnover of local restaurants are increased by our activities and thousands of holiday makers enjoy an enriched experience, encouraging them to return year on year. Our conservation efforts have helped sea turtles to become a tangible asset to the North Cyprus economy. In a region which is undergoing rapid development, this continues to play a major role in safeguarding the future of the most vital nesting habitats.
The marine turtle has become the emblem of the North Cyprus Ministry of Tourism and Environment. It is used extensively throughout the tourism and other industries for promotional purposes. Turkish Cypriot citizens even carry the turtle emblem on their identification cards and passports as a symbol of national heritage.