Fethiye Times News – Week Ending 30 August 2020

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Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.

NEWS

Turkey hosts almost a million tourists in July despite the ongoing pandemic

Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry on Monday stated that the country had hosted almost 5.5 million foreign visitors until August amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the harsh impact of coronavirus on tourism worldwide, Turkey’s tourist footfall decreased by 78 percent from 24.7 million, when compared to the same period of last year.

In July, the country hosted 932,927 foreign visitors. Last year, it was dramatically different, and something closer to 6.5 million, however, the number was 214,768 more than in June. 

In order to ensure the safety of tourists, a collaboration between Turkey’s Culture and Tourism and Transportation ministries, ‘The Safe Tourism Certification’ was  launched. It covers a wide range of safety measures: from transportation and accommodation, to health conditions for tourists and hospitality employees alike.

Talking about the expected number of people travelling to Turkey as tourists this year, the minister said that the country might host more than 15 million by the end of 2020 as long as the air traffic is not disrupted by further  pandemic complications.

“We may receive more than $11 billion of tourism income this year,” Ersoy stated. 

Read the full article here: https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/turkey-hosted-a-million-tourists-in-july-despite-the-ongoing-pandemic-39259

Water levels decline due to drop in rainfall and soaring temperatures

A drop in rainfall and soaring temperatures have led to a decline in water levels in dams and lakes around Turkey.

As of Wednesday, dams supplying water to Istanbul held the second-lowest water level in the past 10 years, at 48.92%, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

Over the last two weeks, water levels have dropped by 8%. Out of 10 dams, only three had water levels above 50%, while at the same time last year, all were above 60% full.

Decreased precipitation is the main cause of the reduction in water levels. Between January and March this year, Istanbul saw less than half of the rainfall and snowfall it saw over the same period in 2019, which itself was far lower than in 2018.

In Bursa, thousands of fish washed ashore for a week on the banks of Hasköy, an artificial lake in a rural area in northwestern Turkey. Unusually high temperatures and farmers using water to irrigate their fields are to blame for shrinking water levels in the lake.

Authorities have been filling the lake with water for the past two days, but to no avail, as dead fish continue to surface on the banks of the lake.

Experts say that although the lake is not entirely dry, the fish died due to a low level of oxygen.

Hamit Aygül, the Bursa director of the Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that insufficient precipitation led to a reduction in water levels and the problem would prevail unless more rainfall occurs in the area.

Source: Daily Sabah

Two-millennium-year-old statue of Heracles saved from overturning

A 2,060-year-old statue of Heracles, located on the West terrace of Mount Nemrut, which leaned forward due to earthquakes and snow drifts, has been saved from overturning in a two-day rescue mission.

The statue was tied with silk ropes, straightened and filling material was placed under it to prevent it from overturning.

Underneath the statue, a necklace and a telephone booth token from the 1980s were found. Officials are of the view that the token might have been left behind accidentally by researchers excavating the sites at Mount Nemrut.

Mount Nemrut is a 2,134-meter high situated in southeastern Turkey, notable for the summit, where several huge statues are standing tall around, what is assumed to be a royal tomb, from the 1st century B.C.

Home of the ancient Kingdom of Commagene, the mountain has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

Source: Hürriyet Daily News

First concert held in ancient city to commemorate 2020 as the ‘Year of Patara’

The first concert was held at the Ancient City of Patara in the southern province of Antalya to launch 2020 as the “Year of Patara.”

The launch took place after the successful completion of the restoration works on the site.

Renowned Turkish DJ Burak Yeter, Russian singer Siniahrybava Tatsiana, Dutch vocalist Allan Eshuijs and Cecilia Krull, the Spanish singer, best known for a theme song of the famous TV series “La Casa de Papel,” performed at the concert.

“Patara holds a special place in the pages of our history. It is important to play in this historical atmosphere,” said DJ Yeter, unveiling Turkish flags celebrating with the audience in respect of the Victory Day.

Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, said in a press conference before the concert, “Patara holds the heritage of civilizations from previous centuries. We want this place to be well known. The announcement of ‘2020 Patara Year’ was the first step for this. We will also make 2021 the Year of Patara Year as well.”

Source: Hürriyet Daily News

SPORT

Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor updates

Fethiyespor

Fethiyespor will compete in TFF 3rd League 2nd Group in the 2021-2022 Football Season. The season will start on 19-20 September 2020.

New transfer to Fethiyespor

Fethiyespor signed a 2-year contract with 25-year-old defender Murat Şimşek, who transfers in from Kocaelispor.

Training camp continues

Football training camps signal the start of the new season and give the team the best chance to get into football shape. Fethiyespor are currently training hard under the management of coach Mesut Torun to get ready for the new season.

New website for Fethiyespor

The newly designed and updated Fethiyespor website is now online. Visit www. fethiyespor.org to follow the latest developments about the club.

Football School and Goalkeeper Training Courses start on 1 September

Fethiyespor Football School and Goalkeeper Training Courses will start on September 1, 2020.

Training groups will be categorized into ages and each group will consist of 14 athletes at most.

Coaches working in the sports school will have a UEFA A diploma.

For more information please visit: https://fethiyespor.org/haberler/fethiyespor-futbol-okulu-ve-kaleci-egitim-kurslari-kayitlari-basladi/

For more information about Fethiyespor please visit:

www. fethiyespor.org

 Fethiyespor Yabancilar on Facebook

You can also follow Fethiyespor on Twitter and Instagram

Turkey to allow limited fan attendance at football matches from October

Turkey will let limited numbers of fans attend football matches from October, the Turkish Football Federation said in a statement on Tuesday, rolling back some curbs imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Turkey halted its 2019-20 season in March due to the virus and resumed matches in June without spectators. Last month, the top-tier Super League concluded with Istanbul Basaksehir winning the title for the first time, breaking the dominance of the “Big Three” in Turkey – Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas. 

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) said it had decided to allow fans in up to 30% of each stadium’s capacity as of October, adding that private boxes would also be open to use. 

“Fans will enter after temperature tests at stadiums, and it will be mandatory for all fans to abide by social distancing and wear masks,” the TFF said. 

There have been more than 259,000 cases of novel coronavirus recorded in Turkey and more than 6,100 deaths, as cases have risen in recent weeks despite warnings from the government.

In a separate statement, the TFF announced the introduction of a “B Team League” where top-tier clubs will be allowed to compete as well. It said participation was not mandatory, but the league aimed to provide playing time for young players. 

Turkey’s Super League is set to return on Sept. 11.

Source: Reuters

Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates

The British Pound bought 9.79 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 9.59 TL.

The US Dollar bought 7.33 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 7.33 TL.

The Euro bought 8.73 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 8.64 TL.

Source: FxexchangeRate.com

Weather Forecast

Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.

Source: Living Earth

Today’s featured image: “Hay baling in Yalnızdam village” by Lyn Ward

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The post Fethiye Times News – Week Ending 30 August 2020 appeared first on Fethiye Times.