Hello Everyone! 👋 Samet Çelmeli here.
In past weeks, I usually went through around 200 to 250 news stories, but this week, the number jumped to over 400. That alone shows how busy the news cycle has been. I can't include every single story here, but let's see what got caught on the line and might spark your interest. 👇
📰 General News
⚖️ On July 5, Antalya Mayor Muhittin Böcek and Manavgat Mayor Niyazi Nefi Kara were among several CHP mayors detained in a new wave of investigations into alleged corruption. The actions are part of a broader legal operation targeting opposition-run municipalities. Authorities cited financial misconduct claims as the basis for the arrests.
🔥 Antalya has experienced a rise in forest fires due to unusually high temperatures, with 14 incidents reported over the past 9 days. Around 45 hectares of forest and 5 hectares of other land were damaged across Kumluca, Finike, Alanya, Aksu, Gazipaşa, and Serik. Several fires, including in Manavgat and Konyaaltı, were quickly contained thanks to fast emergency response.
🪂 A paraglider crashed into a rocky area after taking off from the 800-meter-high Yassıtepe. Rescue teams, including police and medical staff, responded quickly after his friends called for help. He was treated at the scene and rescued from the rocks after about an hour. Suffering bruises but no life-threatening injuries, he was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
🏗️ A new gendarmerie station is planned for Alanya’s Kestel neighbourhood to meet the growing security needs of the city’s eastern areas. The construction tender will take place on July 24 at 10:00 a.m. at the Antalya YİKOB office. The planned station will cover 592,75 square metres and is expected to be completed within 240 days after the site is handed over to the contractor.
🌱 In Alanya’s Demirtaş neighbourhood, a citrus farmer is struggling as concrete waste from a nearby facility invades his land. The farmer says a concrete plant built next to his 14-decared orchard has been dumping untreated wastewater, leaving up to 1 metre of residue across his fields. He hasn’t been able to farm for 3.5 years and plans to seek legal action if the company fails to install a proper filtration system. The waste is also affecting irrigation channels, threatening other farmland in the area.
🚨 Sea pollution was recently observed again near Alanya Marina, where boats are docked. The water surface was visibly covered with environmental waste, prompting some boat owners to clean it manually using nets. Residents are now calling for the return of the sea cleaning vessel Wasteddin, which was previously in use but removed without explanation.
🚔 Traffic and Public Safety
⚖️ A confrontation at Alara Grand Bazaar in Okurcalar escalated on July 4 when brand lawyers conducting a court-ordered counterfeit inspection clashed with local shopkeepers. The dispute turned violent, prompting gendarmerie intervention. Warning shots were reportedly fired to disperse the crowd. Six suspects were detained and later jailed.
🚖 A taxi driver in Alanya was fined after demanding an inflated fare of 400 TL instead of the expected 170 TL from tourists without using the taximeter. Authorities swiftly identified the driver, issued a penalty, and warned that the entire taxi stand could lose its license if similar issues reoccur.
🚫 Between April 7 and July 4, inspections of 380 businesses selling tobacco and alcohol in Alanya found 21 operating without licenses, leading to a total of 2.058.217 TL in fines.
🚛 In the Cikcilli neighbourhood, a runaway truck with failed brakes caused significant disruption on Belediye Street. The vehicle struck two parked cars while rolling downhill and blocked the road. A crane and loader were dispatched to clear the area after logs were transferred from the truck to another vehicle. The accident resulted in property damage only.
🚨 Traffic enforcement efforts have intensified in Alanya. During joint inspections by local police and gendarmerie teams, a total of 645 motorcycles were checked. As a result, 259 riders were fined and 19 motorcycles were taken off the road.
🛵 Additionally, 53 individuals were fined for riding motorbikes in pedestrian-only zones. These inspections, coordinated by the Alanya District Governor’s Office, aim to protect pedestrian safety and maintain public order.
🚔 Meanwhile, the Alanya District Gendarmerie Command carried out a general traffic inspection, checking 707 vehicles. As a result, 137 drivers were fined and 6 vehicles were removed from traffic for non-compliance.
🚔 Ongoing traffic inspections targeting illegal airport transportation across Alanya have resulted in fines for many companies and vehicles, with some taken off the road.
🏊 A group of people caused public disturbance at Galip Dere Beach behind the old municipality building by entering the sea completely naked, ignoring others around them. Beachgoers reacted strongly and reported the incident to patrol officers. The individuals were warned and removed for violating public order and decency rules.
✈️ Tourism
🛠️ Repairs are underway at Sapadere Canyon, one of Alanya’s key natural tourism spots, after it was damaged by heavy rain and storms. Work began on June 20 following a previously tendered steel construction project worth 3,055,000 TL. The area is expected to reopen by July 9, with safety measures prioritized throughout the restoration.
🗣️ Issues like aggressive touting and pricing policies have come under scrutiny in Alanya’s tourism sector. On the popular local TV program 5x5, journalist Hilmi Karagöz criticized the behavior of some businesses that harass tourists on the streets to lure them into their venues, calling it harmful to the city’s image and visitor experience.
⚠️ Staff at a hotel in Alanya’s Konaklı neighborhood reported serious workplace issues, including unpaid wages, unclear insurance status, and being forced to work outside their job roles. Workers said salaries were delayed and paid in irregular parts, and some were even made to do construction work. They are urging authorities to find a fair and lasting solution to protect all tourism workers.
🚧 Alanya Municipality plans to ban tour buses from entering the harbour area in an effort to reduce traffic congestion. Under the proposed system, buses would drop passengers behind the old municipality building, who would then walk to the harbor. While tourism groups mostly support the plan, the boat cooperative voices concern for elderly and families, urging revised access for shuttle vehicles.
🏚️ The historic Şarapsa Han in Alanya’s Konaklı neighborhood, dating back nearly 800 years to the reign of Sultan Kaykhusraw II, is at risk of disappearing due to neglect and vandalism. Once a vital stop for travelers and now considered Alanya’s first “hotel,” the structure is marred by spray-painted graffiti and signs of abandonment. Both locals and tourists are voicing concern, calling for urgent restoration and preservation of the site before it's lost to time.
📈 Holiday bookings in Germany rose by 8 percent in May 2025 compared to last year, with a noticeable increase in last-minute sales to Turkish destinations such as Alanya. Despite rising prices, demand remained strong due to short-term travel trends and heavy discounts. Bookings for July and August are also showing upward momentum.
🎭 Art & Entertainments
🚤 Alanya celebrated Kabotaj Bayramı (Maritime and Cabotage Day) on July 1 with colorful evening events starting at the Atatürk Monument near Kızılkule. Officials laid wreaths and moved to the harbor to drop one at sea. Crowds enjoyed swimming, tug of war, plate throwing, and the greased pole contest, won by Emirhan Şevik. A night swim was also held at Soğukkapı Beach, drawing strong local interest.
🎬 Here are the movies you can watch this weekend at Alanyum Shopping Mall:
Click on each title to see the movie details in IMDb
🏆 Sports
🏖️ Alanya Hosts Europe’s Beach Handball Elite
Alanya is proudly hosting the 2025 European Beach Handball Championships between 3–13 July, welcoming both U17 and senior national teams in men’s and women’s categories. Matches take place at the Alanya International Beach Sports Center.
🎯 Senior National Teams:
The Turkish Men's National Team is in Group B with Germany, Portugal, and Czechia.
The Turkish Women’s Team also competes in Group B, facing Portugal, Norway, and France.
📅 Match Dates for Turkey (Senior Teams)
8 July
08:30 🇳🇴 Norway – 🇹🇷 Turkey (Women)
11:30 🇵🇹 Portugal – 🇹🇷 Turkey (Men)
17:00 🇹🇷 Turkey – 🇵🇹 Portugal (Women)
20:00 🇹🇷 Turkey – 🇩🇪 Germany (Men)
9 July
09:30 🇨🇿 Czechia – 🇹🇷 Turkey (Men)
10:30 🇫🇷 France – 🇹🇷 Turkey (Women)
🎯 U17 Teams:
The U17 Women’s Team plays against Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Czechia, and Switzerland, while the U17 Men’s Team competes against Hungary, Sweden, Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria. Group matches conclude on 5 July, followed by finals on 6 July.
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)
Samet bey. Thank again. Is it true the weather is again extreme sıcak?
Enjoyed your writings again! Thank you Samet Bey! Have a lovely week!