Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Fethiye Hosts Sea Life Awareness Event for Turkey Environment Week
As part of Turkey Environment Week, a special event was held in Fethiye to raise awareness about marine life and environmental conservation.
The event featured a talk titled “Fethiye’s Sea Turtles and Their Importance”, presented by Dr. Doğan Sözbilen from Pamukkale University. Dr. Sözbilen highlighted the crucial role sea turtles play in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems and the ongoing efforts to protect them.
Dr. Kerem Gökdağ from the Mediterranean Conservation Society also took the stage to share current studies focused on the protection of endangered marine species, including dusky groupers, sandbar sharks, seagrasses, and the rare Mediterranean monk seal.
Adding to the call for action, Selver Hatice Kabak, our Climate Change and Zero Waste Manager, emphasised the ecological value of sea turtles and urged the community to take an active role in protecting marine habitats.
As a lasting reminder, a dusky grouper information sign, created in collaboration with the Mediterranean Conservation Society, was placed on Çalış Public Beach to educate locals and visitors alike.
Together, we continue to stand up for nature and the future of our seas.
Source: Fethiye Belediyesi
Children Enjoy Kite Festival During Environment Week at Şehit Fethi Bey Park
As part of Environment Week activities, a Kite Festival was organised for children at Şehit Fethi Bey Park in Fethiye.
The event brought families together as colourful kites filled the sky, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere. During the festival, children were informed about the importance of keeping the environment clean and the need to protect nature.
The festival combined fun with education, helping raise awareness among young participants about environmental responsibility from an early age.
Source: Fethiye Belediyesi
English Author Louis de Bernières Holds Book Signing and Interview in Fethiye
Renowned British author Louis de Bernières, best known for his novel Birds Without Wings, visited Fethiye during his holiday and held a special book signing and interview event in the historic Paspatur Bazaar. The event was supported by Fethiye secondhand bookseller Cumhur Durmaz and attracted interest from both Turkish and British literature lovers.
A Tribute to Kayaköy and Turkish History
In Birds Without Wings, Bernières masterfully tells the story of Kayaköy – the former Greek town of Levissi – and its peaceful coexistence between Muslim and Christian communities before the population exchange. The novel also touches on the early years of the Turkish Republic, the vision of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and the personal tragedies brought on by war, love, and politics.
During the event, Bernières answered audience questions about the themes, historical references, and emotional depth of the book. He spoke about the secret loves, clashing cultures, and the two clergymen of different faiths that feature prominently in the novel, all set against the backdrop of a region marked by beauty, loss, and transformation.
Now 71, Louis de Bernières shared his long-standing connection with Turkey, saying:
“I love Turkey very much; I especially find its food and warm weather very pleasant.”
He first introduced Birds Without Wings in Kayaköy back in 2011 and has visited Fethiye many times since.
The author added that he usually writes in England during the winter months, and although he often writes short stories and essays, he hinted at a new unpublished book, which he hopes to release soon.
Shared Memories in Paspatur
Bookseller Cumhur Durmaz, who organised the event, said:
“Our author is with us right now. We held our event in Paspatur Bazaar. He gave information about his book to both British and Turkish guests and shared his memories of Kayaköy. He signed his books for his loved ones.”
The day was a celebration of literature, history, and shared cultural memory — all in the heart of Fethiye.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/ingiliz-yazar-fethiyede-imza-gunu-duzenledi
5 Million 757 Thousand 200 TL Fine for 40 Illegal Villas in Fethiye
In Fethiye, authorities have imposed a total fine of 5,757,200 TL on 40 villas found to be operating illegally without the required tourism rental documents. The crackdown is part of intensified inspections aimed at regulating the short-term rental market and ensuring compliance with tourism legislation.
During the first round of inspections, each of the 40 illegally rented villas was fined 143,930 TL, adding up to the total penalty. Officials have made it clear that this is just the beginning:
- A second offence will result in a fine of 719,650 TL per villa.
- A third violation will escalate to a fine of 1,930,000 TL per property.
Some property owners have attempted to bypass the regulations by preparing fake long-term rental contracts (exceeding 100 days) for properties actually rented on a daily or weekly basis. Authorities have warned that this tactic will not be tolerated — any such case will face an immediate fine of 1,930,000 TL.
Officials have confirmed that inspections will continue and increase to ensure fair competition, prevent unregistered operations, and support the healthy development of the local tourism sector.
Property owners are reminded to obtain the tourism rental document and fulfil all legal obligations before offering their properties for short-term rental.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyede-40-kacak-villaya-5-milyon-757-bin-200-tl-ceza
Fethiye Proves Itself Not Only in Tourism, But Also in Sports Activities
Fethiye, long recognised for its stunning coastline, natural beauty and historical richness, is now firmly establishing itself as a rising star in sports tourism. Thanks to its unique geography and growing investment in sporting infrastructure, the district is becoming a hub for national and international sporting events.
Harun Reşit Yiğit, Fethiye Youth and Sports District Manager, emphasised the growing importance of sports as part of alternative tourism:
“We believe that sports should be one of the most important titles of alternative tourism.”
In the 2024–2025 academic year alone, Fethiye hosted over 4,000 athletes through school sports events — a figure that doesn’t include accompanying families and guests. With most participants staying at least three nights, this contributed to an estimated 12,000 overnight stays, providing a significant boost to the local economy and the promotion of the region.
Yiğit highlighted Fethiye’s appeal to sporting organisations:
“Fethiye stands out as one of the most beautiful geographies not only in our country but also in the world. This natural beauty and geographical advantage make it a favourite destination for many sports federations and disciplines.”
The district continues to attract national and international sporting organisations, supported by coordinated efforts from local authorities, sports institutions, and government bodies.
Yiğit also expressed pride in the fact that young athletes from across the country get the chance to experience Fethiye:
“It is a separate source of pride for us that our children and young athletes from all over our country have the opportunity to get to know Fethiye.”
He thanked all stakeholders involved for their support in helping Fethiye become a model destination for sports tourism and highlighted the commitment of the District Governor and all local institutions in advancing this vision.
With its blend of natural assets and community dedication, Fethiye continues to grow not only as a summer tourism destination, but as a year-round centre for sports and activity-based tourism.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiye-sadece-turizmle-degil-spor-etkinlikleriyle-de-kendini-kanitladi
Touristic Karaelmas Express Made Its First Journey Between Ankara and Zonguldak
The Touristic Karaelmas Express, designed to showcase the cultural and natural richness of the Western Black Sea region, made its first journey on Friday, as announced earlier by Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.
In a previous statement, Minister Uraloğlu had said,
“Our train will offer passengers the opportunity to rediscover the cultural and natural heritage of the Western Black Sea region.”
The service officially began following a protocol signed between TCDD Taşımacılık AŞ, the Western Black Sea Development Agency (BAKKA), and the Zonguldak Special Provincial Administration, marking the launch of touristic train services on the Ankara–Zonguldak–Ankara route.
The train, which has a capacity of 120 passengers, consisted of two dining cars, four sleeper cars, and one couchette car. It departed from Ankara at 9:25 p.m. on Friday and paused for a four-hour break in Karabük/Yeşilyenice on Saturday morning before continuing to Zonguldak.
The return trip began at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday night. On Sunday, the train made sightseeing stops of:
- Two hours in Çerkeş,
- Five hours in Çankırı, and
- Two hours and 30 minutes in Kalecik, before finally arriving in Ankara at 7:02 p.m. the same day.
The Karaelmas Express is scheduled to operate additional journeys from Ankara on June 13, September 26, October 10, and November 14, with the final trip returning from Zonguldak on November 15.
The launch of this touristic route offered a unique opportunity to experience the scenic and historic landscapes of the region by rail, contributing to regional tourism and local economies.
Source: Daily Sabah
SPORT
Fethiyespor
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
FETHİYESPOR CLUB SPORTS SCHOOL REGISTRATIONS CONTINUE!
Fethiyespor Sports School is continuing to welcome new young talents! With a team of expert coaches and a passion for nurturing future athletes, the club invites all children to take their first step towards professionalism under the proud roof of Fethiyespor.
Registrations are open now for football, gymnastics, swimming, and tennis courses — all designed to provide top-quality training in a supportive and inspiring environment.
📞 For detailed information, call: 0531 614 1933
📍 Location: Fethiyespor Infrastructure Academy Building
Esat Bakırcı Re-elected President of Fethiyespor
The ordinary general assembly of Fethiyespor, the 2nd League football team, took place at the Fethiye Municipality Özer Olgun Cultural Center Hall. Running unopposed, Esat Bakırcı was re-elected as club president, continuing his leadership into the new season.
The congress was attended by former club presidents, long-serving members, and loyal supporters. The meeting began with a moment of silence and the National Anthem, followed by the formation of the board of directors. Fethiye Deputy Mayor Oğuz Bolelli was appointed chairman of the board, with Cem Erdoğan as deputy chairman and Aybike Şahin as secretary.
During the meeting, Press Spokesperson Selahattin Aydemir read the activity and audit reports, which were subsequently approved by the members. Several agenda items were discussed and accepted unanimously, including a proposal to rename the Fethiyespor facilities as “Fethiyespor Esat Bakırcı Facilities” in honour of the president’s long-standing service to the club.
Addressing the financial situation, President Bakırcı reassured members, saying,
“Fethiyespor does not have a debt in the amount stated. I also forgave the club’s debt to me. I have no receivables from Fethiyespor. I will personally provide even a glass of water for our team.”
He went on to outline the challenges and future plans, highlighting the importance of unity and financial responsibility:
“In the last period, our board members received tax notifications. We’ve cleared them all. There is currently a tax office seizure on properties I own. Still, we’ll undertake major initiatives in the new season.”
Bakırcı acknowledged the loss of home-field advantage due to stadium conditions and said that efforts are ongoing to address the issue. He also noted the increasing financial demands in professional football:
“We want to strengthen the squad for the new season. The transfer demands we’re seeing are around 10 million TL per player. Last season’s championship teams had budgets of 250 million TL, while ours was only 40 million TL. Yet, we still had a successful season.”
Gratitude to Supporters and Staff
The president expressed his thanks to Lokman Hekim Esnaf Hospital for their vital support and extended appreciation to the club’s technical director Selahaddin Dinçel for his dedication.
“We don’t currently have the means to form a championship-level squad, but if someone capable comes forward, I’ll gladly support them and even step down. The budget for such a team is around 400 million TL. Regardless, we will do everything we can to elevate Fethiyespor to its rightful place.”
2024–2025 Board Members
Under the leadership of Esat Bakırcı, the newly formed Fethiyespor Board of Directors includes:
Metin Sevinç, Mehmet Soydemir, Durcan Kaya, Halil Dillare Uran, Osman Yiğit, Akhan Ugan, Öztürk Günal, Cengiz Halis, Uğur Keskin, Fahri Kıvanç Yılmaz, Osman Kazımlar, Cem Tufan, Hüseyin Okkabas, Emrah Aydın, Selahattin Aydemir, Suphi Demiray, Yunus Yelekin, Ramazan Göktepe, Harun Reşit Yiğit, Nihat Oran, Deniz Koyuncu, Mert Demir
Supervisory Board Members: Münire Yanıklar, Erol Kılıç, Selda Köse
Fethiyespor now looks ahead to the new season with renewed leadership, community support, and ambitious plans for growth both on and off the pitch.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/esat-bakirci-yeniden-baskan-secildi
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 53.44 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 53.06 TL.
The US Dollar bought 39.39 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 39.22 TL.
The Euro bought 45.49 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 44.72 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
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