Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Fethiye Strengthens Cultural Ties with China Through Week of Special Events
Fethiye welcomed the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Jiang Xuebin, and his delegation as part of a series of events celebrating the growing friendship between Fethiye and China.
The visit included the opening of the “Mountains and Seas Flourish” Fethiye–Huzhou Cultural Exchange Exhibition at the Özer Olgun Cultural Centre, showcasing artistic collaboration between Fethiye and Huzhou. To mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and China, an olive tree was planted as the “Tree of Friendship and Peace,” symbolising the enduring relationship between the two nations. New multilingual directional signs in Turkish, English and Chinese were also unveiled to help international visitors explore the town more easily.
The celebrations concluded with a spectacular performance by the internationally acclaimed BFSU University Dance Troupe, who captivated audiences at the Ancient Theatre of Telmessos with their “Harmony of the Silk Road” show.
The programme reflects Fethiye’s ongoing commitment to strengthening international cultural partnerships while supporting its ambition to become a year-round destination for culture, art and tourism.
Source: Fethiye Belediyesi
New Era for Cafés and Restaurants as Menu Transparency Rules Take Effect
A major change is coming for cafés, restaurants and other food businesses across Turkey as new regulations require menus to provide customers with clearer information about what they are eating and drinking.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has introduced amendments to consumer information regulations aimed at improving transparency and helping people make more informed food choices.
Under the new rules, businesses will be required to display key nutritional information for the food and beverages they serve, including calorie counts, ingredient details and allergen information.
What information must be displayed?
Menus will be required to include:
- The main ingredients and raw materials used in each product.
- Energy (calorie) values.
- Allergen information.
- Details indicating whether products contain alcohol or pork-derived ingredients.
The Ministry says the changes are designed to support public health by giving consumers easy access to important nutritional information before making their choices.
Digital menus and QR codes permitted
Businesses will be able to provide the required information in a variety of ways, including printed menus, menu boards, brochures, digital displays or QR codes.
Where QR codes are used, establishments must clearly inform customers how to access the information.
Phased introduction
The new requirements will be introduced gradually to give businesses time to adapt.
National restaurant chains must comply with the new menu information rules from 1 July 2026.
Businesses operating three or more branches within the same province must meet the requirements by 31 December 2026.
All other food businesses across Turkey have until 31 December 2026 to provide mandatory ingredient and content information.
Businesses have been given additional time to implement calorie declarations, with the deadline set for 31 December 2027.
The Ministry hopes the phased rollout will allow the hospitality sector to adapt smoothly while ensuring customers across Turkey benefit from greater transparency about the food they purchase.
Ölüdeniz Paragliding Pilots Present Industry Demands to Muğla Officials
Paragliding pilots from Ölüdeniz have presented a series of demands to Muğla officials, highlighting the growing challenges facing one of Türkiye’s most renowned adventure tourism sectors.
The meeting followed the pilots’ recent decision to suspend flights in protest over rising operating costs and ongoing industry concerns. Around 150 members of the local paragliding cooperative gathered at the Muğla AFAD Provincial Headquarters, where they met with Muğla Deputy Governor Murat Sarı and Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Hüseyin Toprak.
During the meeting, Deputy Governor Sarı invited each pilot to speak individually, listening to their concerns and proposals.
The pilots explained that the sector is facing increasing pressure due to rising costs, infrastructure shortcomings, inspection issues, unplanned growth and uncontrolled competition. They said that flights are often being sold below sustainable price levels, while expenses such as insurance, taxes, transfers and daily operating costs continue to increase.
Among their key requests was the construction of a second runway at the Babadağ launch site in Ölüdeniz, one of the world’s leading destinations for tandem and solo paragliding. They also called for all launch runways to meet international operating standards to improve efficiency and safety.
In addition, the pilots requested greater representation in decision-making processes, asking to be included in board meetings where issues affecting the sector are discussed.
Deputy Governor Murat Sarı and Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Hüseyin Toprak listened to the presentations and recorded each of the requests raised during the meeting.
The discussions mark another step in ongoing efforts by Ölüdeniz’s paragliding community to seek solutions to the economic and operational challenges facing the industry.
Source: https://www.sondakika.com/yerel/haber-oludeniz-parasutculerinden-talepler-20031000/
Hazardous Debris Removed During Göcek Seabed Cleanup
A seabed cleanup operation has been carried out at Göcek Public Beach in Fethiye, with divers removing potentially hazardous materials from the sea to improve safety for swimmers.
The cleanup took place at the beach operated by Coastal Management and Environmental Protection Inc. (Kıyı Yönetim ve Çevre Koruma AŞ), a subsidiary of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.
Six volunteer divers took part in the operation, conducting a detailed underwater survey using specialist cameras to identify submerged hazards. During the inspection, the team located heavy mooring weights, mooring chains, concrete blocks and various pieces of metal equipment resting on the seabed.
With the assistance of a crane, the divers successfully recovered the mooring weight and chain systems, along with other hazardous materials, from the water.
Following the operation, officials confirmed that all potential dangers within the designated swimming lanes had been removed, making the area safer for beachgoers.
Coastal Management and Environmental Protection Inc. said similar seabed safety inspections and cleanup operations will continue at public beaches and coastal areas as part of ongoing efforts to protect both visitors and the marine environment.
Source: https://www.sondakika.com/guncel/haber-gocek-te-deniz-dibi-temizligi-20037177/
Brush Fire in Bodrum Brought Under Control
A brush and grass fire that broke out in the Bodrum district of Muğla has been brought under control following an extensive aerial and ground firefighting operation.
The fire started for reasons yet to be determined in a brush and grassland area in the Dereköy neighbourhood. Driven by strong winds, the flames spread rapidly across a wide area, prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Firefighting teams from the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department and the Muğla Regional Directorate of Forestry were dispatched to the scene, where they began tackling the blaze from both the air and the ground.
The operation involved seven helicopters and six firefighting aircraft, supported by eight fire engines, three water tankers, two bulldozers and 70 personnel on the ground.
After an intensive firefighting effort, the blaze was brought under control. Cooling operations are continuing in the area to prevent any possible flare-ups.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/bodrum-da-makilik-yangini/125364/
New Traffic Measures Introduced to Ease Congestion on the Fethiye Peninsula
New traffic arrangements have been introduced on the Fethiye Peninsula in an effort to reduce congestion that intensifies during the busy summer season.
The peninsula, renowned for its picturesque bays and popular beaches, experiences heavy traffic as visitor numbers increase. To help improve the flow of vehicles, concrete barriers have been installed at the entrances to selected beaches, creating road divisions designed to prevent indiscriminate roadside parking.
Officials hope the new layout will keep traffic moving more efficiently and reduce the lengthy queues that have become common during the summer months.
Ayhan Yiğit, President of the Urban Private Public Bus Cooperative, welcomed the initiative, saying traffic on the peninsula often reaches a standstill during the peak season.
“With the arrival of summer, traffic congestion here becomes extreme. At times, traffic comes to a complete standstill for hours. The situation becomes unmanageable, with vehicles unable to move in either direction,” Yiğit said.
He explained that, under the instructions of Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca, the road layout had been modified using concrete barriers in an effort to provide a long-term solution, particularly by preventing roadside parking.
Yiğit also expressed his appreciation to those involved in implementing the new measures.
“I would like to thank all the teams involved in this effort, especially the gendarmerie units,” he said.
Authorities hope the changes will improve traffic flow and make travel on the Fethiye Peninsula safer and more efficient throughout the summer.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiye-yarimadasinda-trafik-cilesine-cozum-calismasi
Cappadocia Named the World’s Best Sunset Destination
Cappadocia has been crowned the world’s best destination to watch the sunset in an international tourism study, adding another accolade to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed region in Turkey, renowned for its extraordinary landscapes and rich cultural heritage.
The iconic region topped a global ranking compiled by AllClear Travel Insurance, achieving a score of 86.1 out of 100. Cappadocia ranked ahead of some of the world’s most celebrated landmarks, including Waikiki Beach, the Grand Canyon and the Taj Mahal.
The study assessed destinations based on a range of factors, including weather conditions, scenic beauty, visitor experiences and social media engagement.
Known for its dramatic volcanic landscape, fairy chimneys, deep valleys and ancient rock-carved dwellings, Cappadocia impressed researchers with its breathtaking natural scenery and unforgettable sunset views.
Created by volcanic activity millions of years ago, the region transforms each evening as the setting sun casts vibrant shades of crimson, orange and gold across its distinctive rock formations, creating a spectacular panorama that attracts visitors from around the world.
While Cappadocia is internationally recognised for its sunrise hot-air balloon experiences, sunset has become an increasingly popular attraction in its own right. Visitors can enjoy the evening spectacle from panoramic viewpoints or through a variety of outdoor activities, including ATV safaris and horseback riding tours that offer unique perspectives of the region’s remarkable landscape.
The latest recognition further strengthens Cappadocia’s reputation as one of Turkey’s most iconic and sought-after travel destinations.
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Fethiyespor to Begin Preparations for 2026–2027 Season
Fethiyespor’s Professional Football First Team will officially begin preparations for the 2026–2027 season on Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
The squad will return to training as preparations get underway for the new campaign, with players and coaching staff beginning their pre-season programme ahead of the upcoming league season.
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 62.96 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 62.45 TL.
The US Dollar bought 46.98 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 46.76 TL.
The Euro bought 53.65 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 53.31 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
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