This Week in Alanya : 43

Weekly summary of news in Alanya | May 26 - June 1, 2025.

English | Suomi

Hello Everyone! 👋 Samet Çelmeli here.

A few readers emailed me last week with ideas for this newsletter, and I enjoyed hearing their thoughts. If you have any suggestions to make it more interesting or engaging, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Now, if your coffee is ready, let’s dive into what’s been happening in Alanya this week. ☕👇

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📰 General News

💉 In a medical breakthrough for Alanya, two lung cancer patients underwent successful lobectomy surgeries using the VATS technique, a minimally invasive method applied for the first time at Alanya Training and Research Hospital. Thanks to this advanced procedure, both women quickly recovered, avoiding transfer to other cities.

🌱 In Gazipaşa’s Zeytinada district, hundreds of acres of illegally occupied forest land used for banana farming are being reclaimed by the Forest Directorate. Around 70 individuals, including local businessmen and politicians from Alanya, have been ordered to vacate the land, which is set to be reforested after two decades of unauthorized agricultural use.

🔒 On May 28, Alanya's shopkeepers staged a one-day shutdown to protest increasing pressure from brand lawyers enforcing high licensing fees and conducting aggressive raids on small businesses.

Selling counterfeit goods and then closing shops in protest against inspections... Truly a surprising form of protest!

🏗️ Alanya’s Olympic Swimming Pool, built in 2005, will be demolished due to non-compliance with earthquake regulations. A new, modern facility meeting international standards is planned in its place. The project aims to serve both tourists and professional athletes.

🚯 In Mahmutlar, illegal dumping of large waste items like sofas and furniture near the 3M Migros area has caused serious environmental concern. Residents are frustrated by the mess and the lack of enforcement by local authorities. They’re calling for stricter inspections and better maintenance to protect the area’s appeal for both locals and tourists.

🏡 A new AI-powered property valuation system is set to launch in Alanya by mid-2027, making each property's real market value visible through digital maps. Initially covering areas like Mahmutlar, Oba, and Cikcilli, the system aims to prevent undervalued deeds, support fair taxation, and boost transparency in urban planning and real estate investments.

🚧 A major milestone has been reached in the Kuşyuvası Tunnel project on the Alanya-Konya road, as excavation work has been completed and the tunnel's ends have been successfully connected. Once finished, it will provide safer and more comfortable travel, especially during winter, and is expected to boost the local economy and domestic tourism.

🔄 Alanya District Governor Dr. Fatih Ürkmezer has been appointed to Beykoz, Istanbul, after serving since July 2020. His replacement, Şakir Öner Öztürk, currently Deputy Governor of Sivas, is expected to assume his new role in Alanya in the coming days.

🧹 Ahead of Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayramı), Alanya Municipality launched intensive cleaning and washing operations across the city, working day and night in main streets and neighborhoods. Crews are also removing illegal debris dumped in nature.

🚔 Traffic and Public Safety

🚨 A dramatic car rollover occurred on Atatürk Boulevard in Alanya after the driver of vehicle 07 AUK 887 lost control and hit the median. The driver was trapped inside but rescued by fire crews and taken to the hospital by ambulance. The overturned vehicle was removed by crane, and traffic soon returned to normal.

😠 In a shocking human trafficking case, two men were sentenced to a combined 364 years and 208 months in prison for forcing 26 foreign women into prostitution at an unlicensed Alanya Turkish Bath. The hammam, operating illegally since 2013, was shut down, and authorities questioned past municipal inspectors over the lack of oversight.

🛡️ A massive cybercrime raid in Alanya led to the arrest of 26 suspects, including 4 women, involved in online fraud, illegal betting, and child exploitation. The group used phishing tactics to steal personal data, accessed banking apps, and created fake documents.

🚨 Alanya residents are warned about a fraud scheme where scammers impersonate Deputy Mayor Hasan Can Kamburoğlu to request donations by phone. The municipality emphasized that no official aid involves direct money requests and urged the public to ignore such calls and report suspicious activity to the police immediately.

🚨 Alanya municipal teams intensified public safety and hygiene inspections this week. A dürüm (wrap) vendor was fined for washing equipment in a mosque courtyard. Separately, 50 kilos of mussels transported unsafely in a bus were confiscated and destroyed to protect food safety.

😷 A shocking food safety violation was uncovered in Saray, where a facility producing “Şalgam” was operating without a license and in extremely unhygienic conditions. Inspections revealed production in a storage-like area, with toilet water leaking into the workspace and food touching the floor. The site was sealed, as Alanya Municipality vowed zero tolerance for threats to public health.

Şalgam is a traditional Turkish fermented beverage made from purple carrots, bulgur wheat, and turnips, flavored with spices like garlic and hot pepper.

🚓 Alanya Police conducted intensive traffic inspections on May 25–26, checking 908 vehicles across the district. A total of 392 drivers were fined nearly 1.3 million TL for violations, and 27 vehicles were removed from traffic.

✈️ Tourism

🌿 Alanya continues to embrace sustainable tourism as part of the international Culinary Heritage program. Following detailed evaluations, Adin Beach Resort Hotel and NoxInn Deluxe Hotel were awarded the Excellence Certificate for top performance across six key criteria. Several other venues were also recognized for supporting local cuisine, environmental awareness, and community benefit.

✈️ For the first time, a direct flight from Kazakhstan landed at Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport as a Fly Arystan plane from Astana arrived with 175 passengers. The flight was welcomed with a traditional water salute and a festive ceremony attended by local and Kazakh officials. This marks a major step in opening the region to the Central Asian market, with a total of 56 flights scheduled until August 30, operating twice weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays.

🛳️ Alanya’s maritime tourism is set to reach new heights with Ataberk Group’s floating hotel project, New Level Dream, now under construction at their Manavgat shipyard. Blending luxury, technology, and unique travel experiences, the superyacht is expected to launch by 2027, aiming to become a premium symbol of Mediterranean cruising.

I just hope the real ones don’t end up looking like these giant flip-flops.

🎭 Art & Entertainments

🕌 Kurban Bayramı is approaching and will be observed from June 6 to 9, with the eve on June 5. As one of Turkey’s most important religious holidays, it is a time of sacrifice, family gatherings, and charity. Public offices and many businesses may close, so it's best to plan ahead for any arrangements.

🎬 Here are the movies you can watch this weekend at Alanyum Shopping Mall:

Click on each title to see the movie details in IMDb

• Karate Kid: Legends 🆕

• Sihirli Annem: Hepimiz Biriz 🆕

• Kabala 🆕

• Lilo & Stitch

• Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

• Final Destination: Bloodlines

🏆 Sports

⚽ Alanyaspor secured their Süper Lig survival with a vital 2-1 away win against Konyaspor last week. They wrapped up the season in style by defeating Sivasspor 2-0 at home on Saturday, May 31, finishing the league on a high note. Congratulations to Alanyaspor on a strong end to the season!

🏑 In a dramatic final of the Women's Outdoor Hockey Super League held in Alanya, Gaziantep Polisgücü edged out Metpack Alanya Yıldızları 5-4 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Despite a strong fight and a late equalizer, Alanya fell short in the final moments, narrowly missing the national championship title.

That's all for this week. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, please subscribe and share it with others. 🙋‍♂️

🔗 Useful Links

◾ This Week in Alanya - Archive 📚
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◾ Pharmacies on Duty 👩‍⚕️ (Updates every day)
◾ Antalya Airport ✈ (Arrivals / Departures)
◾ Gazipaşa Airport ✈ (Arrivals / Departures)
◾ Flight Radar ✈ (Displays the plane's live location in real-time.)
◾ Municipal Map 🗺
◾ Official Weather Forecasts ⛅
◾ Pay your Electricity bills online (CK Akdeniz) ⚡
◾ Pay your Water bills online (Asat) 💧
◾ Official Exchange Rates 💱 (You can also find historical exchange rates)
◾ cimri.com & akakce.com 🛒 (Compare and find the cheapest product across various Turkish online shopping sites)
◾ Latest Earthquakes in Turkey 🌍
◾ Documents Required for Short-Term Residence Permit Applications 💳
◾ Market Fiyatı 🛒 (compare the prices of products at supermarkets)
◾ City Cameras 🎥 (Watch Alanya Live through City Cameras)