Welcome to our midweek round-up of the latest news and updates from Fethiye and across Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
FTSO Launches ‘Geographically Indicated and Local Product Friendly Business’ Campaign to Promote Regional Flavours
Fethiye, MUĞLA – The Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTSO) has launched the “Geographically Indicated and Local Product Friendly Business” campaign, awarding certificates to restaurants, cafes, hotels, and tourist facilities that incorporate geographically indicated and locally produced ingredients into their menus.
FTSO Chairman Osman Çıralı personally visited several businesses to present their certificates, praising their commitment to promoting local heritage. “I owe a debt of gratitude to our businesses that offer products reflecting our soil, climate, and cultural heritage to guests from across our country and around the world,” he said. “By using local ingredients, they help introduce our visitors to the nature, traditions, and culture of our region, while also contributing to local economic development.”
The campaign, launched on October 1, 2025, aims to highlight and increase demand for local products in Fethiye and Seydikemer, especially those with geographical indication registrations such as Fethiye Tahini, Fethiye Rock Fig, and Fethiye Tarhana. It also supports products currently in the application process, including morel mushrooms, Nif cherries, Arsa grapes, pink tomatoes, Bekçiler potatoes, and Nerdek.
Following the campaign announcement, Chairman Çıralı visited participating businesses, presented their certificates, and encouraged them to display the accompanying stickers prominently in their venues. “Our certificates cover all local products,” he noted, emphasizing that the recognition extends to every product grown or produced in the region.
Çıralı highlighted the growing global importance of gastronomic tourism, which connects visitors with destinations through food experiences. “Tourists are no longer satisfied with just sea, sand, and sun,” he said. “They want to taste the authentic flavours of our region and discover the stories behind them. Local products play a vital role in this. Through dishes made with local ingredients, our businesses act as cultural ambassadors, offering visitors a taste of our identity.”
Over the past month, FTSO representatives have visited 17 businesses to deliver their certificates, with plans to continue recognizing others. Çıralı invited any remaining establishments using local products to contact the Chamber to be included in the campaign.
Referring to UNWTO data showing that gastronomy tourism accounts for nearly 30 percent of global tourism expenditure, Çıralı stressed the economic potential of local product-focused initiatives. “The economic cycle created by local products will not only strengthen our agriculture and trade but also elevate our position in global tourism,” he said. “Even the smallest efforts by our businesses are valuable. I extend my sincere gratitude to all who support and showcase our local products. These certificates are both a symbol of appreciation and a call to continue this vital work.”
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/ftsodan-cografi-isaretli-yerel-urun-seferberligi
Tables and Chairs Return to Çalış Beach Despite Municipal Ban
Fethiye, MUĞLA – Despite a municipal ban introduced earlier this year, tables and chairs have once again begun to occupy the seaside area of Çalış Beach.
The Fethiye Municipality had announced on May 5th that no tables or chairs were to be placed along the beachfront, following a decision enforced by the Municipality Police Department around six months ago. The regulation aimed to ensure the area remained open for public access throughout the summer season.
However, recent observations reveal that the seaside has once more seen the return of furniture, prompting frustration among local residents. Many have voiced their objections, urging the municipality to uphold its earlier decision and prevent the beach from being reclaimed by private interests.
Municipal authorities are reportedly planning to increase inspection frequency in the coming days to address the issue.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/calis-sahilinde-deniz-kenarinda-masa-ve-sandalye-isgali-yeniden-basladi
Mega Yacht ‘Sunrays’ Refuels in Fethiye Before Sailing to Egypt
Fethiye, MUĞLA – One of the world’s largest luxury yachts, Sunrays, docked in Fethiye for refueling, drawing attention from locals and visitors alike.
The 85.43-metre mega yacht, owned by Indian billionaire Ravi Ruia, anchored at Fethiye Pier on Tuesday for a scheduled refueling stop. The vessel, flying the Cayman Islands flag, reportedly took on 94,000 liters of fuel during the operation.
Built in 2010, Sunrays is a floating palace of luxury and design, boasting nine guest cabins — including a master suite and three VIP cabins — along with an array of high-end amenities such as a spa, beauty salon, pool, gym, beach club, and dedicated entertainment areas. The yacht also offers water sports facilities and features advanced stabilizing systems for a smoother sailing experience.
The striking vessel, measuring 14 meters wide, made an impressive sight in Fethiye harbour before continuing its journey toward Egypt.
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/mega-yat-sunrays-fethiye-de-94-bin-litre-yakit-aldi/110223/
Blood Donation Drive Held at FTSO
Fethiye, MUĞLA – A blood donation campaign organised by the Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTSO) brought together members, employees, and local residents in support of the Turkish Red Crescent’s vital work.
The Turkish Red Crescent Blood Services Unit conducted the drive in the FTSO Service Building parking lot, where participants contributed to saving lives through blood donation. As a gesture of appreciation, the Red Crescent presented small gifts to all donors.
FTSO Deputy Chairman Süleyman Kaya expressed his gratitude to everyone who took part in the event, saying, “We sincerely thank our members, employees, and citizens who showed great sensitivity by donating blood.”
Source: Fethiye TV
New Golf Course to Open at Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme in 2026
Dalaman, MUĞLA – Turkey’s reputation as a world-class golf destination is set to expand once again, with the opening of a new 18-hole course at the Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort scheduled for April 2026.
Since the first courses were built in Belek, Antalya, during the 1990s, the country has grown into a major hub for golf holidaymakers. Now, players will have a new Mediterranean destination to explore — around 200 miles west of Belek and just minutes from Dalaman International Airport.
Originally conceived in 2006, the project was delayed by the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent environmental and planning challenges. Work finally resumed in 2023 with updated designs and fresh ambitions, leading to construction starting in April 2024 and completion in September 2025.
Ümit Yasar Atalay, general manager of the new club, said:
“Our vision is to create an environmentally conscious, nature-integrated golf course that meets international standards and positions Turkey where it rightfully belongs in the global golf tourism arena. The area’s rare qualities inspired us to envision a course that would not only coexist with the landscape but also enhance it.”
Designed as a sustainable and aesthetic living space, the course aims to provide a premium experience for players of all levels, offering a tranquil environment in harmony with nature.
Bordered by the beach resort to the south and a river to the west, the course sits in one of southwestern Turkey’s most ecologically rich areas, featuring diverse vegetation, natural lakes, and serving as a stopover for migratory birds.
Read more here: Golf in Turkey Spreads its Wings
Strong Harvest in Muğla as Pine Honey Yields Reach Highest Level in Five Years
Muğla, MUĞLA – Favorable weather conditions have boosted pine honey production in Muğla, restoring yields close to pre-fire averages and marking the strongest harvest in several years.
Muğla, which accounts for about 80 percent of Turkey’s pine honey output and 90 percent of global production, had seen yields fall sharply following devastating forest fires in 2021. However, this year’s favorable climate has supported the recovery of pine forests and the return of the pine bollworm (Marchalina hellenica), a key species in honey production.
Yılmaz Kaya, President of the Muğla Beekeepers Association, said approximately 6,000 local families earn their living from beekeeping, while a further 3,000 migratory beekeeping families travel to the region each year. He added that nearly half of Turkey’s bee population is based in Muğla.
According to Kaya, pine honey yields have reached around 20,000 tons, the highest in the past four to five years. He noted that the sector, which had been disrupted by climate change, the pandemic, and wildfires since 2020, has regained momentum, with both production and prices improving over the past two years.
Muğla pine honey, recognised as a geographically indicated product, continues to stand as one of Turkey’s most valuable agricultural exports and a symbol of the region’s ecological and economic resilience.
Restored Atatürk House in Thessaloniki to reopen on Nov 10
Thessaloniki, GREECE – The historic Atatürk House, the birthplace of Turkey’s founding leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, will reopen to visitors on November 10 following a major restoration and landscaping project.
The Turkish Consulate General in Thessaloniki announced that the museum will welcome visitors at 10 a.m., immediately after a ceremony commemorating Atatürk on the Day of Remembrance, observed annually on the anniversary of his passing in 1938.
The restoration, carried out under the supervision of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and coordinated by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in collaboration with Greek authorities, aimed to revive the building’s authentic character as a “Turkish House.” Earlier renovations had altered many of its original features.
Using archival photographs and original architectural references, restoration teams meticulously repaired wooden doors, windows, ceilings, and floors to reflect the atmosphere of the late Ottoman period in which Atatürk was born. Infrastructure such as electrical and mechanical systems were modernized, while the courtyard was repaved in stone and its walls reconstructed.
When it reopens, the three-story museum will host exhibitions across its levels — focusing on the building’s history, local ethnographic culture, and Atatürk’s early life.
The Atatürk House remains one of the most visited heritage sites for Turkish citizens abroad, attracting around half a million visitors in 2024.
Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/restored-ataturk-house-in-thessaloniki-to-reopen-on-nov-10-215376
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