Alim Karaca, who hosted Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Trump, talked about Fethiye

Avrupa Agency (AVA) England/London-Alim Karaca, the Mayor of the touristic paradise Fethiye city of Muğla province in the Aegean Region of Turkey, spoke to Avrupa Gazete on the ‘Nardugan’ holiday. Vatan Öz, who went to Turkey from England on a special occasion, interviewed Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca. Karaca told ÖZ about ‘Fethiye’, the British living in Fethiye, and their future plans for tourism and sent his greetings to Turkish citizens in England. Our editor Vatan Öz met with Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca at the Fethiye Municipality Özer Olgun Cultural Center last Saturday.

Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca:

Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca: "I am also a Yoruk*. Fethiye is a special place, with its location, geographical environment and nature... This is my second term as mayor in Fethiye. We host tourists from all over the world. Fethiye is a special city with many towns on the UNESCO World Heritage List, attracting the attention of the world. " *(Yoruks are the name given to Oghuz Turks who live as nomads in Anatolia. They are also known as Turkmens.)

Last month, Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca, who came to London, visited London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Deputy Mayor Mete Çoban.

Times Newspaper's List Of Places To Visit In The World Fethiye

"Fethiye is at the top of the list of places to visit in the world by the English The Times. We have worked very seriously in the last 5 years. We have become the place that hosts the most English tourists in Turkey. 65% of those who come to Fethiye are English tourists. There are approximately 5,000 British residents living in Fethiye. Before the pandemic, we had around 10,000 British neighbours and friends. With the economic and social effects of the Syrian and Ukrainian wars, the British population in our region has dropped to 5,000.”

“UK Ambassador to Turkey in Ankara

“UK Ambassadors in Ankara visit Fethiye every year. We hold meetings regarding the needs of the British living within the borders of our municipality. The British also participate in the social responsibility projects carried out by our municipality.”

UK Ambassador to Turkey Jill Morris, Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca

“We, as a municipality, continue our initiatives. We participated in the WTM-World Tourism Fair held in London last month. We held meetings with British tour operators at the fair. We carried out serious work with the British through B2B meetings. Then, we visited London Metropolitan Mayor Sadıq Khan. We explained and introduced Fethiye to Khan. We will receive the reward of these efforts this summer. We expect a 15% to 20% increase in the number of tourists coming to Fethiye from the UK compared to last year.”

“Fethiye is a special tourism destination that appeals to every budget. There has been serious tourism investment in Fethiye in recent years. The 6th 5-star hotel is opening in Fethiye. Holiday villages and honeymoon hotels are opening among the serious investments.”

The world’s largest “Air Games Festival”

“We have been organising the world’s largest “Air Games Festival” for years. The “Air Games Festival” that we will be holding at the end of October 2025, which is the largest in Turkey and among the top 3 in the world, is one of the symbols of Fethiye. I also fly with a parachute. Babadag is the best airstrip in the world. Oludeniz is the most beautiful touristic place in the world. We are launching a cultural tourism offensive with China. We will launch a tourism offensive with China, Japan and South Korea. The sea, sand and sun part is complete, but we want to provide additional income to our tradesmen with cultural tourism in the winter season.”

"We do not discriminate people according to their views. We have 41 neighbourhoods in Fethiye. We provide services regardless of their political views. We were elected with a historic margin in the last election. We were deemed worthy of office with more votes than all candidates received combined. We do not have the luxury of being spoiled. We have been working non-stop since the election ended. We are carrying out projects. Very nice projects will be completed in the next 4 years. We will solve all the fundamental problems of Fethiye”

“We are expecting everyone in England, whether Turkish or English, to come to Fethiye. There is almost no one in England who does not know Fethiye. Fethiye is very valuable. It is a safe city day and night. You can walk very comfortably with your family at 2 am. Everyone is on holiday comfortably. Our people from different cultures are happy here, and we are very happy despite our busy, stressful work schedule. We have around 1300 employees in the municipality. We are doing our best and will continue to do so.”

NARDUGAN FESTIVAL SUNRISE CELEBRATED IN FETHİYE

A “Sunrise” event was held on Saturday, December 21st at the Fethiye Municipality Özer Olgun Culture Center. Journalist Banu Avar and Turkologist Prof. Dr. Necati Demir spoke at the Nardugan (Sunrise) Festival, which is celebrated to mark the lengthening of days and the revival of nature, inherited from the Turkish communities in Central Asia.

Fethiye Yoruks and Sandıklı Yarens Gathering'

The Fethiye Yoruks and Sandıklı Yarens Gathering, hosted by Ramazan Kıvrak, the President of the Fethiye Yoruk Turkmen Association, showcased the Yoruk culture. The rising sun is perceived as the rebirth of the Sun, a new birth, among the Turks. The name of this birth festival is NARDUGAN. Rising sun nar=sun, tugan, dugan=born). Fethiye and Sandıklı Yoruk Yarens, Associations affiliated to the Anatolian and Toros Federation; Fethiye, Seydikemer, Kaş, Nif Yoruk Turkmen Associations. Dalaman, Milas, Bodrum Yoruk Obaları Associations. Karaçulha Gönüllüleri Association, Fethiye Local Seed Association, Göcek Yoruk Nomads participated in the Nardugan festival.

Turkish Journalist Banu Avar and Turkologist Prof. Dr. Necati Demir with Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca

Vatan Oz, Ramazan Kıvrak with mayor Karaca

Thank you from Vatan Öz

Vatan ÖZ on behalf of the London-based Avrupa Media Group: “I would like to thank Mr. Alim Karaca for this wonderful welcome. Turkey needs such successful presidents. Alim Karaca, who deals with everyone from our local Yörüks to the British and Russians living in the district without discrimination, is being appreciated for his success. In addition to his successful municipality, I would like to congratulate Alim Karaca, who represents the towns in the best way possible, hosting the world’s most famous politicians and businessmen such as Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Trump every year in the international arena.”

Fethiye, Kayaköy

Vatan Öz, who visited Kayaköy, one of the world-famous tourism resorts of Fethiye, talked about Fethiye and Kayaköy tourism with Turgay Vesekci, the owner of Cinbal Restaurant and his sons Ömer and Oğuz Vesekci, Kayaköy Headman Şenol Öztürk, retired diplomat and chief advisor to Fethiye Mayor Yavuz Topateş

A “Sunrise” event was held on Saturday, December 21st at the Fethiye Municipality Özer Olgun Culture Center.