Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Türkiye.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Muğla breaks all-time foreign tourist record in 11 Months
Muğla, one of Türkiye’s top tourist destinations after Istanbul and Antalya, has set a new record by hosting 3,679,527 foreign tourists in the first 11 months of 2024. Known for its world-famous districts such as Fethiye, Marmaris, and Bodrum, the province saw a 9% increase in foreign tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2023, when 3,389,918 visitors were recorded.
Despite ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine—two key markets for Muğla—British tourists remained the dominant group, accounting for nearly 40% of the total foreign visitors. In the 11-month period, 1,593,015 tourists arrived from the UK, reaffirming Muğla’s status as a preferred holiday destination for British travellers.
The Russian Federation ranked second with 410,149 visitors, followed by Poland with 294,088 and Germany with 253,030 tourists.
Muğla’s two international airports, Dalaman and Milas-Bodrum, handled the majority of arrivals. A total of 2,937,626 tourists entered through these airports, with Dalaman welcoming 1,931,515 visitors and Milas-Bodrum accommodating 1,006,111. Additionally, 741,901 tourists arrived via the province’s 10 sea customs ports.
Muğla’s record-breaking performance highlights its enduring appeal as a top-tier holiday destination, attracting millions of visitors with its natural beauty, historical landmarks, and world-class amenities. Local tourism officials expressed optimism for continued growth in 2025, building on this historic milestone.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/tum-zamanlarin-yabanci-turist-rekoru-11-ayda-kirildi
Renovation begins at Çalış Beach sports facility
The Çalış Beach Sports Facility, a popular venue for sports activities in Fethiye, is undergoing significant renovation to revitalise and modernise its amenities. The Çalış Tourism and Promotion Association (ÇALIŞ-DER) announced that maintenance, repair, and renovation works have commenced at the facility, which has been serving the community since it was established by the municipality in 2012.
In a statement, ÇALIŞ-DER highlighted plans to reorganise the facility to host a variety of events, including local, national, and international tournaments. The association aims to transform the area into a modern recreation hub, enhancing its appeal for beach sports such as volleyball and soccer.
The facility, which has been a focal point for beach sports enthusiasts, is expected to regain its former vibrancy upon the completion of renovations. ÇALIŞ-DER officials noted the strong public demand for beach volleyball and soccer and emphasised their commitment to reactivating unused fields and the entire facility.
Encouraging residents to take advantage of the upcoming improvements, ÇALIŞ-DER stated:
“We invite our fellow citizens of Fethiye to a healthy life in Çalış. Our primary goal is to revive this recreation area and reopen it for public use, as well as for local, national, and international events.”
Once completed, the renovated Çalış Beach Sports Facility is set to host a range of tournaments and activities, reaffirming its position as one of the region’s key attractions for sports and leisure.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/calis-plaj-sporlari-tesisinde-yenileme-ve-bakim-calismalari-basladi
Fethiye Municipality nears completion of Muğla’s first Autism centre
The Fethiye Municipality Niyazi Mete Autism Park, set to become the first autism centre in Muğla, is nearing completion. Designed to foster social integration and provide a safe space for individuals with autism to interact with peers and engage in social activities, the centre addresses the growing needs of this community.
The construction of the facility was completed in just eight months, with interior design work currently underway. Once finalised, the centre will begin welcoming individuals with autism, offering them a dedicated environment to enhance their social experiences.
The project received significant support from philanthropist businessman Niyazi Mete, whose contributions were instrumental in bringing this initiative to life. The municipality has extended its gratitude to Mete and all others who played a role in realising this exemplary endeavour.
Source: Fethiye Belediyesi
High demand for immune-boosting products at Fethiye Friday market
The Fethiye Friday Market has witnessed a surge in interest, with citizens flocking to purchase fruits and winter vegetables rich in vitamin C to bolster their immune systems during the colder months.
With the onset of winter, the market’s stalls are now brimming with seasonal produce designed to help ward off illness. The sunny weather has further encouraged locals to visit the market, where oranges and tangerines have emerged as the top picks. Producers expressed satisfaction with the increased demand, highlighting the natural and locally sourced qualities of their products.
Winter vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, celery, and leeks have also been in high demand, praised for their health benefits, freshness, and reasonable prices. Local farmers emphasised that their additive-free, naturally grown vegetables not only support immunity but also contribute to overall well-being.
Both citizens and producers expressed optimism about the season, with the market serving as a vibrant hub for fresh, nutritious, and locally produced goods.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/cuma-pazarinda-bagisikligi-guclendiren-urunlere-yogun-ilgi
Artvin landslide shifts 100,000 tons of soil
A landslide in the Black Sea province of Artvin on 8 December displaced approximately 100,000 tons of soil, according to investigations. The disaster struck the Arhavi district at around 3:30 a.m., forcing the closure of the Black Sea coastal road in both directions. Tragically, four individuals lost their lives when their car was buried under the debris.
Experts believe the landslide may have been triggered by a magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck the Hemşin district in neighbouring Rize on 15 November. Geological engineer Professor Dr. Hakan Ersoy of Karadeniz Technical University highlighted the potential link between the earthquake and subsequent landslides.
“Türkiye is prone to earthquakes, and we are seeing their after effects in our region. Our studies suggest that earthquakes can indeed trigger landslides, which is what we are focusing on,” Ersoy explained.
The earthquake in Rize, an area not traditionally regarded as high-risk for seismic activity, has raised concerns. Following the quake, two landslides occurred in the province’s Çayeli district, prompting renewed scrutiny of the relationship between tremors and landslides in the Eastern Black Sea region.
“From Georgia’s Batumi to Giresun, and even Akçaabat in Trabzon, earthquakes with magnitudes of 2 to 3 occur along the coast. This poses an important question: are these earthquakes causing the landslides we see in the region?” Ersoy noted, stressing the need for further research and evaluation to better understand the risks.
Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/artvin-landslide-shifts-100-000-tons-of-soil-203563
Istanbul parking fees to increase by up to 115% in 2025
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Council has approved substantial hikes in parking fees for 2025, with increases of up to 115% for İSPARK-operated lots in central areas such as Fatih and Kadıköy. One-hour parking in these high-demand districts will rise from TL 70 to TL 150, while a full 24-hour period will jump from TL 270 to TL 500.
Street parking fees in districts like Beşiktaş and Şişli will also increase significantly, with one-hour rates climbing from TL 70 to TL 120 and daily rates rising from TL 195 to TL 300.
The fee hikes are part of Istanbul’s Sustainable Urban Transportation Plan, aimed at reducing traffic congestion by encouraging public transport use. However, the changes have raised concerns among drivers who rely on private vehicles.
Additional increases include higher charges for access to green areas and taxi-related services, with new rates set to take effect on 1 January 2025. This follows previous parking fee hikes in October 2023 and June 2024.
SPORT
Fethiyespor
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
League Match Results
Fethiyespor won their home match against Erzincanspor on Sunday. The final score was 3-1.
Fethiyespor remain in 9th position in the league table.
League Matches
Sunday 22nd December away against Sincan Belediyesi Ankaraspor. The kick-off time is at 14:00. This is the last game of the first half of the season.
Fethiyespor will kick off the second half of the season with an away match against Kastamonuspor on Sunday, 19th January 2025. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 14:00.
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 44.11 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 44.27 TL.
The US Dollar bought 34.95 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 34.74 TL.
The Euro bought 36.71 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 36.74 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
