The ’19th Ayvalık International Olive, Harvest, and Tourism Festival’ held in Ayvalık will also feature colorful scenes this year. Organized by the Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce from November 1-3, with support from the Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality, Ayvalık Municipality, Balıkesir Commodity Exchange, Ayvalık Tradesmen and Artisans Chamber, and Ayvalık Agricultural Chamber, the festival will also feature the promotion of 150-year-old red corals found only in Portofino, Italy.
During the diving event on November 3, national athlete Şahika Ercümen, who broke the Turkish record for the second time at the Free Diving World Championships, will dive to display the beauty of the red corals. Ali Uçar, President of the Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce, stated, ‘With a lodging capacity of 14,500 beds, 22 islands suitable for diving tourism, red corals found only in two places in the world, the branded tourism destination of Cunda Island, a distinctive culinary culture brought by the population exchange, historic urban fabric, nature parks, unique sunsets, and many more features, Ayvalık is shining its star in tourism. Our city, offering holiday opportunities year-round, values the red corals as one of its significant assets. People specifically come to our city to dive and see this unique beauty found only in Portofino, Italy. We are delighted to have our national athlete Şahika Ercümen join our festival to dive and promote our diving tourism, as well as to talk about the red corals.
