This Week in Alanya : 44
Weekly summary of news in Alanya | June 2 - June 8, 2025.
Hello Everyone! 👋 Samet Çelmeli here.
I wrote this week’s newsletter during my holiday in Alaçatı. Much like Alanya, Alaçatı is a charming coastal town in the Aegean region with a warm climate, rich history, and a reputation for world-class windsurfing. I hope you’re also having a lovely time wherever you’re reading this. Wishing you all a joyful Bayram!
📰 General News
🌍 Two earthquakes were felt in and around Alanya this week. The stronger one, a 5.8 magnitude quake, struck off the coast of Marmaris at 02:17 on June 3, briefly alarming residents but causing no damage or injuries. Earlier, on June 1 at 20:31, a 4.0 magnitude tremor originating from the Mediterranean near Okurcalar was also recorded.
🏥 A new healthcare regulation now requires foreign residents in Alanya to visit the Family Health Center at the old State Hospital instead of their local family doctor. The change has caused difficulties, especially for elderly and disabled individuals, due to poor accessibility, non-working elevators, and limited staff. Local groups are urging a revision of the policy.
🏛️ During the June City Council meeting, Mayor Osman Tarık Özçelik announced that the old municipal building in the city center will not be demolished. Instead, it will be transformed into a cultural and social center based on public demand. A total of nearly 3,000 residents contributed ideas through surveys and comments, emphasizing cultural use over destruction.
🚧 Alanya Municipality continues roadworks across the district. Recent asphalt projects in Sugözü and Küçükhasbahçe were completed ahead of schedule. Work will resume after the holiday in Payallar, followed by Kestel and Kargıcak, aiming to improve transportation comfort throughout the region.
💰 A stroke of incredible luck hit Alanya as the 66.4 million TL jackpot from the June 1 Süper Loto draw was won by a ticket purchased at a lottery shop on Sugözü Street in Saray Mahallesi. The shop's co-owner expressed hope that the massive prize went to someone truly in need and noted this is the largest win in their 15-year history.
🦚 Two of Alanya Museum's peacocks made a surprise escape from their enclosure, prompting a search by museum staff and local authorities.😅 The birds, known for occasionally wandering, have not ventured this far before. Residents spotting them are urged to contact the museum or police. Efforts continue to ensure their safe return.
🐍 Alanya has experienced a significant increase in snake sightings, raising safety concerns for residents, farmers, and hikers. Experts warn that hot and humid conditions attract snakes to gardens and greenhouses. This rise is associated with climate change and habitat shifts, prompting calls for increased caution during outdoor activities.
💧 Residents in Alanya are expressing growing frustration over unusual water bills. A striking case emerged when two neighbors in the same building received identical bills down to the last kuruş, both charged 252.12 TL. Locals have started filing complaints with ASAT, demanding an explanation for the suspiciously identical and rising charges.
🔊 Despite the seasonal construction ban that began on May 15 to protect Alanya’s tourism atmosphere, many sites continue working, disturbing both locals and tourists with early morning noise. Complaints are especially high in Mahmutlar and Güllerpınarı. Residents call for stricter enforcement as the ongoing violations threaten the area's peace and quality of life.
🚔 Traffic and Public Safety
⛱️ On the second morning of the holiday, Alanya municipal teams cleared tents set up overnight on Kleopatra Beach. Visitors camping to save money were asked to leave around 6:00 AM. Officials emphasized that the beach is for public use, not for overnight stays, and similar inspections will continue throughout the holiday.
🛡️ To ensure public safety and peace during Kurban Bayramı, over 1,100 security personnel are deployed across Alanya. Police, gendarmerie, coast guard, and local watchmen patrol around the clock in city centers, rural areas, beaches, and traffic points. Authorities stress that the aim is not punishment, but creating a safe and peaceful holiday environment for all.
✈️ Tourism
📉 Alanya’s tourism industry is under increasing strain, even though early-season hotel occupancy stands at a solid 70–75%. According to ALTİD President Burhan Sili, keeping these numbers up is becoming more difficult due to soaring costs and stronger international competition, especially in pricing. A boost is expected during the Bayram holiday, but concerns remain over sustainability and profitability in the months ahead.
💸 As summer heats up, sunbed and umbrella prices have shocked beachgoers, with rates now ranging from 150 TL to 1000 TL per person at some private beaches and VIP areas. Last year’s lowest fee was just 70 TL. Locals and budget travelers say a simple day at the beach is becoming a luxury, especially with extra charges for food and drinks.
🛳️ Alanya welcomed a boost in tourism as the Marella Discovery 2 cruise ship arrived from Marmaris with 1,801 tourists, mostly from the UK. The visitors explored landmarks like Kaleiçi and Dimçayı.
🏖️ Alanya has once again proven its commitment to sustainable tourism, completing Blue Flag inspections across 67 resort beaches, 7 public beaches, 4 tour boats, and 1 marina. With strict adherence to environmental criteria, the city also earned the Best Environmental Education Activities Award for the fifth consecutive year, highlighting its leadership in eco-conscious practices.
🛎️ For those wondering why the quality of tourism services in Alanya has declined, former hotelier Canan Şencan’s post offers a striking summary. Drawing from her own experiences, she explains how years of poor decisions have harmed the tourism industry. If you’d like to read her full insight into the reasons behind this downturn, click here.
🎭 Art & Entertainments
🌿 Alanya’s Best Balcony and Garden Contest has concluded, with the most beautifully designed spaces selected by a jury of landscape and design professionals. The winners will be awarded during Environment Week on June 11, with top prizes reaching 15,000 TL.
🎨 In a creative push for environmental awareness, Alanya Municipality turned 10,000 plastic bottles into a massive art installation with help from local students and artist Zeliha Sunal. The project highlighted the impact of plastic waste and promoted sustainable living through art.
🎼 Mark your calendars: internationally renowned pianist Fazıl Say will perform in Alanya on October 18, 2025 as part of the city’s cultural programming.
🎬 Here are the movies you can watch this weekend at Alanyum Shopping Mall:
Click on each title to see the movie details in IMDbSiccin 8 🆕
🏆 Sports
🥈 Hüseyin Dolu from Alanya has earned international recognition by finishing second in the world at the U23 Muaythai World Championship held in Kemer from May 22 to 31. He had earlier represented Alanya Muay Thai Academy as Turkey’s national champion in the 60 kg category.
🏐 Alanya will host the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour from June 11 to 15 at a brand new beach volleyball complex, which is said to be the most advanced in Turkey. Built by the Alanya Municipality and ALTAV, it will also host the European Beach Handball Championships in July, welcoming thousands of athletes.
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 📚
◾ This Week in Alanya - Facebook Group
◾ 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)
Thank you again for this great summary of Alanya news and happy holidays - Hayırlı Bayramlar!
Alicati is such a nice artistic colorful village. Enjoy it Samet!