Welcome to our midweek round-up of the latest news and updates from Fethiye and across Turkey.
Curated from various news sources
Road Works Continue Uninterrupted in Fethiye
Fethiye, Muğla –Fethiye Municipality has announced that road construction works are progressing at full speed. Asphalt paving has been successfully completed in the neighborhoods of Çiftlik, Esenköy, Karaçulha, Yeşilüzümlü, Yenimahalle, Eldirek, İncirköy, Kızılbel, and Çamköy.
Municipal teams confirmed that road construction continues uninterrupted in other neighborhoods, in line with the planned schedule. The works are part of an ongoing effort to provide residents with more comfortable and safe transportation options.
Source: Fethiye Belediyesi
Season Begins, Fethiye Fish Market Prices Drop
Fethiye, Muğla – With the lifting of the nationwide fishing ban on September 1, fishermen in Fethiye returned to the sea after a long break, bringing their first catches to shore and filling the stalls at the Fethiye Fish Market. Within a day, prices saw a noticeable drop, giving both tradesmen and consumers a promising start to the season.
Fethiye Fish Market fisherman Mahir Kahya highlighted the sharp fall in prices:
“Red mullet, which was 1,500 lira three days ago, has now dropped to 1,000 lira. Sardine has fallen from 400 lira to 300 lira. As fish become more abundant, prices will continue to drop,” he said.
The fishing ban, which began on April 15, ended on September 1, allowing large industrial vessels back to sea. With the change in weather and the arrival of rains in the coming weeks, Kahya expects even greater abundance and lower prices.
Kahya also emphasised the importance of fish as a healthy food source:
“Fish is a healthy commodity from the sea. After September 1, small boats disappear, and fishing is carried out with larger vessels. With more catches expected, people will be able to enjoy fish from the Black Sea and Marmara regions at more affordable prices.”
Looking ahead, Kahya noted that anchovy is expected to be plentiful this year, while bonito may be less abundant:
“Our season has already started well. We want our people to eat plenty of fish,” he added, wishing all fishermen a successful season.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/sezon-basladi-fethiye-balik-pazarinda-fiyatlarda-dusus-yasandi
Initiatives Launched to Promote Fethiye’s Health Tourism Potential in London
Fethiye, Muğla – The Fethiye Health Platform, operating under the Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTSO), has launched new initiatives to promote the region’s growing health tourism potential in London.
A meeting held at the FTSO Meğri Hall brought together representatives of private healthcare institutions in Fethiye. The session was chaired by FTSO Chairman Osman Çıralı and featured a presentation by Vatan Öz, owner of the London-based Avrupa Newspaper. Öz shared insights and feedback on promotional strategies, including advertising campaigns on London buses, taxis, the underground, and in popular magazines.
The discussions focused on coordinated steps to expand Fethiye’s visibility in the UK health tourism market under the leadership of FTSO.
Chairman Çıralı emphasised the importance of international collaboration:
“We are working with institutions to promote Fethiye and Seydikemer as tourism destinations in London. For two years, we have successfully showcased Fethiye’s health tourism at the London International Health Tourism Fair. Now, through advertisements on buses, taxis, the metro, and in magazines, we aim to reach millions more and attract greater numbers of tourists from the UK,” he said.
The campaign aims not only to highlight Fethiye’s medical and wellness services but also to strengthen the region’s overall appeal as a tourism hub.
Muğla Celebrates the 199th Anniversary of the Municipal Police
Muğla, Turkey – Municipal police officers from 13 districts across Muğla gathered under the coordination of the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality to mark the 199th anniversary of the Municipal Police, one of the most established institutions of local government in Turkey.
The commemorations began with a wreath-laying ceremony in Cumhuriyet Square, attended by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Secretary-General Tayfun Yılmaz, department heads, municipal police chiefs, and personnel. Following a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem, a wreath was laid at the Atatürk Monument.
After the ceremony, municipal police teams held a comprehensive meeting to evaluate ongoing and future operations. The agenda included inspection activities carried out throughout Muğla, initiatives to regulate urban life, protect public health, and improve community safety, as well as planning for greater coordination in the months ahead.
Secretary-General Tayfun Yılmaz highlighted the vital role of municipal police in maintaining order and supporting citizens:
“On the 199th anniversary of our Municipal Police Organization, we held this meaningful gathering under the leadership of our Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, Mr. Ahmet Aras. I salute with love and respect our valued Municipal Police teams, who are the face of our municipality and who work tirelessly to ensure public health, environmental health, and public safety. Our Municipal Police Organization works 24/7 for the city, maintaining order, lending a helping hand to a child or an elderly person when necessary, fulfilling a sacred duty. We are proud of these valued teams who stand with our people and represent our municipality.”
The celebrations in Muğla were part of nationwide events honouring the 199-year history of the Municipal Police, recognising their continuous service to urban life and community well-being.
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/mugla-da-zabita-teskilatinin-199-yili-kutlandi/106174/?p=5
Summer Heat in Turkey Expected to Linger Until October, Expert Warns
Istanbul, Turkey – Temperatures across Turkey are forecast to remain above seasonal norms well into October, delaying the arrival of autumn, according to meteorologist Orhan Şen.
Şen noted that starting Monday, September 1, temperatures nationwide will dip slightly by 1–2 degrees, including in Istanbul, where they will hover around 32°C. However, he stressed that “summer will last until October, and even into mid-October, we may experience a warm, summer-like climate.”
The meteorologist also issued a stark warning about the country’s worsening drought:
“Precipitation has declined by 74 percent. We are living through the hottest and driest period in the past 65 years. Agricultural drought is now imminent. Farmers will not be able to plant because the soil has not retained moisture,” he said.
This year, Turkey has endured one of the driest summers on record. In Izmir, the country’s third-largest city, authorities introduced controlled water cuts last month as reservoirs dropped to critical levels.
At the same time, the nation has been battling severe wildfires. In Denizli province, a forest fire burning since September 1 has forced the precautionary evacuation of two neighborhoods.
A recent study by World Weather Attribution (WWA) found that climate change has intensified wildfires across the eastern Mediterranean, including Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. The group reported that fires in the region were 22 percent more intense in 2025, Europe’s worst year on record for wildfires, with more than 1 million hectares scorched, 20 lives lost, and 80,000 people forced to evacuate.
Driven by soaring temperatures above 40°C, extreme drought, and strong winds, the region’s wildfires highlight the growing impact of climate change on Mediterranean countries.
Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkiyes-summer-heat-to-linger-until-october-expert-says-213132
Turkey Set to Break Record with Over 2 Million Cruise Tourists in 2025
Istanbul, Turkey – Turkey is expected to welcome more than 2 million cruise tourists by the end of the year, potentially surpassing the record set in 2013, when 2.2 million visitors arrived by sea.
According to TÜRSAB Chairman Firuz Bağlıkaya, more than 1 million passengers arrived on 675 cruise ships between January and July, marking a 19% increase compared to the same period last year. Bağlıkaya highlighted Turkey’s strategic position at the crossroads of the Eastern Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Sea routes, making it an increasingly attractive hub for cruise operators.
The expansion of Galataport in Istanbul and Turkey’s growing role as a home port have boosted revenues for airlines, hotels, restaurants, and local businesses. Ports such as Kuşadası, Izmir, and Bodrum are also seeing higher demand, strengthening the country’s position in the global cruise market.
Bağlıkaya underlined that cruise tourists bring high added value and strong spending potential, and called for strategies to match the changing traveller profile. He suggested a cruise summit in Istanbul to chart a roadmap for the sector’s future growth.
MSC Cruises Turkey Country Manager Işın Hekimoğlu added that Turkey’s cultural heritage, natural beauty, and location play a central role in cruise growth. He said the company aims to host 35,000 Turkish guests in the next three years, while the rise in foreign passengers will continue to revitalise port cities and support local economies.
Mawlid al-Nabi Observed on September 3, 2025
Mawlid al-Nabi, the last kandil of the year, was observed on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, according to the Diyanet’s religious calendar. The commemoration began on the night between September 3 and 4, marking the 11th night of Rabi’ al-Awwal.
The occasion honours the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Mosques across the country were filled with worshippers offering prayers and reflecting on his life and teachings.
Observed annually on the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal, Mawlid al-Nabi is regarded as one of the most significant nights in the Islamic calendar.
