Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Türkiye.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Indian billionaire’s mega yacht ‘Sunrays’ refuels in Fethiye
Fethiye recently welcomed one of the world’s largest and most luxurious yachts, Sunrays, owned by Indian billionaire Ravi Ruia, for a refueling stop. The 86-meter-long yacht, flying the Cayman Islands flag, moored at Fethiye Port and refueled 260,000 liters of fuel brought from the İzmir Aliağa Refinery.
The striking vessel, 14 meters wide, captured the attention of local and international tourists, who flocked to the pier to photograph the impressive yacht. As the yacht docked, a 25-person crew spent the entire day cleaning the gleaming exterior, preparing it for its next journey.
Built in the Netherlands in 2010, Sunrays boasts an array of luxurious features, including a dance floor, beauty salon, spa, elevator, underwater lights, beach club, and gym. The yacht accommodates up to 12 guests in 9 suites, 3 of which are VIP, and has a crew of 25 onboard. Valued at an estimated $150 million, the annual maintenance cost of Sunrays is believed to range between $10-15 million.
Ravi Ruia, co-founder of the Essar Group with his brother Shashi Ruia, is one of India’s wealthiest individuals. Essar Group operates across sectors such as oil, gas exploration, mining, and retail. Last August, Ruia hosted an exclusive evening party aboard Sunrays in Bodrum Türkbükü, where around 100 VIP guests attended.
Following the fuel stop in Fethiye, Sunrays is expected to continue its journey abroad.
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/hintli-milyarderin-mega-yati-fethiye-de-260-ton-yakit-aldi/85454/?p=2
Muğla’s wildlife captured on camera traps by Nature Conservation team
Muğla, renowned for its stunning natural landscapes and rich biodiversity, has revealed its wildlife through camera traps set up by the Nature Conservation and National Park Directorate. The recently published footage showcases a variety of wild animals inhabiting the region’s forests, mountains, lakes, and coastal areas.
The video captures several species, including the Brown Bear, Caracal, Hawk, Wolf, Badger, Fallow Deer, Otter, Fox, Weasel, Wild Boar, and the Wild Goat. Many of these species are common in Muğla’s mountainous and forested regions, while others, particularly endangered species, are observed in specially protected areas.
The footage highlights the importance of Muğla’s natural habitats, which serve as a refuge for both endangered and thriving species. Mammals such as the wild goat, jackal, fox, and caracal are especially prominent in the rugged terrains of the province, illustrating Muğla’s crucial role in preserving Türkiye’s diverse wildlife.
Source: https://www.muglagazetesi.com.tr/muglada-yaban-hayati-fotokapana-yansidi
Muğla reacts to Göcek Tunnel price hikes: Yeni Welfare Party calls for action
The Yeni Welfare Party Muğla Provincial Organization has voiced strong opposition to the third price increase in the last year for the Göcek Tunnel, which connects the Aegean to the Mediterranean. Initially promised to the public as a “free of charge” project, the tunnel has become a flashpoint for frustration over escalating costs.
Kadir Ali Selçuk, Chairman of the Yeni Welfare Party Muğla Provincial Organization, held a press conference at the entrance of the Göcek Tunnel to address the issue. Selçuk criticized the government’s handling of the economy, highlighting the burden that repeated price increases place on ordinary citizens and small business owners.
The reaction underscores growing discontent over economic policies and the toll they are taking on the livelihoods of Muğla’s citizens, with the Göcek Tunnel symbolizing broader frustrations about public spending and economic inequality.
Source: Fethiye Haber Bülteni
Turkish Naval Ships evacuate civilians from Lebanon, deliver humanitarian aid
The Turkish Naval Forces’ first amphibious warfare ship, TCG Bayraktar, arrived at the southern port of Mersin, Türkiye, on Thursday, carrying 588 civilians evacuated from Lebanon. Another Turkish warship, TCG Sancaktar, is expected to arrive soon with 378 evacuees. These evacuations follow escalating violence in Lebanon due to Israel’s airstrikes against Hezbollah targets, which have resulted in over 1,323 deaths and mass displacements.
Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran and other officials welcomed the evacuees in Mersin. Both ships also delivered 300 tons of humanitarian aid to Beirut before returning to Türkiye. Turkish authorities confirmed that a total of 966 people, including citizens of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, were evacuated, and additional evacuation efforts may be arranged if needed.
The evacuation efforts come amid Israel’s aerial bombardments in Lebanon and Gaza, which have intensified cross-border tensions since the start of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
Endangered gazelles in Türkiye set for release to boost population
Around 60 endangered gazelles, currently protected at a breeding station in southeastern Türkiye, will soon be released into their natural habitats in the Şanlıurfa and Şırnak mountains to help boost their population. Once abundant, the gazelle population dwindled but has been protected since 2005 at the 75th Year Gazelle Breeding Station in Şanlıurfa.
With the station’s gazelle numbers growing from 86 to 460, efforts to reintroduce them into the wild began in 2020, including the successful release of 90 gazelles into Şırnak’s Cudi Mountain. This year, 30 more will be released into Cudi and another 30 into the Kızılkuyu Wildlife Area. The breeding program has been particularly successful, with a record 175 newborns in 2024, raising hopes for surpassing 500 gazelles soon.
The gazelles hold both ecological and cultural significance in southeastern Türkiye, and these conservation efforts aim to restore their presence in their native habitats while preserving the region’s natural heritage.
Erzurum to highlight cultural riches as 2025 “Tourism Capital”
The eastern Turkish city of Erzurum is gearing up to showcase its rich cultural heritage after being designated as the “tourism capital” for 2025 by the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). This honor follows Uzbekistan’s Shahrisabz, which held the title in 2024. As part of its preparations, Erzurum has developed a new tourism route, highlighting its lesser-known historical and natural attractions.
The municipality recently organized tours for journalists and tourists, featuring visits to sites such as Akpınar village, with its 41 distinct culinary items, and Hınıs district, home to the historic Ulu Mosque and the scenic Hınıs Canyons.
Erzurum, historically located on the Silk Road, offers a blend of ancient churches, mosques, tombs, fortifications, and natural wonders like canyons and valleys. The city is already a popular destination, particularly for winter sports in the Palandöken district, known for its world-class facilities. Erzurum’s initiatives aim to boost both local and international tourism by showcasing its unique cultural and historical wealth.
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Fethiyespor
Ziraat Cup
Fethiyespor won their home match against Düzcespor on Tuesday 8th October. The final score was 6-5.
League Match Results
Fethiyespor won their away match against Trabzon FK on Saturday. The final score was 0-1.
Fethiyespor moves up to 9th position in the league table.
League Matches
Sunday 20th October at home against Adana 01 FK. The kick-off time is at 19:00.
For more information about Fethiyespor please visit:
Join the Fethiyespor Yabancilar group on Facebook for more news and updates
You can also follow Fethiyespor on Twitter and Instagram
Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 44.80 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 44.94 TL.
The US Dollar bought 34.28 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 34.25 TL.
The Euro bought 37.53 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 37.61 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
