AVRUPA TIMES/LONDON-Her Excellency Jill Morris, the British Ambassador to Turkey, paid a visit to Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca at his office, accompanied by a diplomatic delegation. During the meeting, Ambassador Morris and Mayor Karaca exchanged views on the 2025 tourism season and recent developments in the district.Expressing her pleasure at returning to Fethiye, Ambassador Morris emphasised that, ahead of the tourism season, it is a priority to engage with local authorities in areas where British citizens either reside or frequently visit for tourism.The Ambassador noted, based on her observations and media coverage, that since her last visit to Fethiye the previous year, the district has witnessed significant investment something she found both encouraging and commendable.
Mayor Karaca briefed the delegation on current municipal projects and outlined expectations for the 2025 tourism season.
Also in attendance were Neale Jones, Director of Consular Services at the British Embassy in Ankara; Alper Akçeşme, Deputy Consul at the British Consulate General in Istanbul and Regional Officer for Muğla; Birsen Yılmaz, a staff member of the British Honorary Consulate in Fethiye; and Yavuz Topateş, retired diplomat and advisor to the Mayor.
FETHIYE: A RISING STAR
During the cordial meeting, Mayor Karaca said: “Last November, we attended the London Tourism Fair alongside local stakeholders from Fethiye. In addition to meeting with our Ambassador in London, we held highly productive discussions with travel agencies, tour operators, the Mayor of London, and several municipal officials. All our contacts in London agreed that ‘Fethiye is a rising star’, which made us proud.
We consider the tourism fairs in London and Berlin to be highly professional and effective platforms for promotion, and we intend to continue participating in the years ahead.
Despite the economic climate and political challenges faced by opposition municipalities in Turkey, we are managing to overcome these obstacles through strong cooperation with Muğla Metropolitan Municipality.
Tourism in Fethiye was very successful last year, with no major issues reported. In 2024, we welcomed over 10% more foreign tourists than in 2023. As always, visitors from the United Kingdom made up the largest group of international tourists to our district.
At present, I can confidently say that Fethiye is fully prepared for the 2025 season. We are ready to welcome both domestic and international tourists in a safe and peaceful environment. Fethiye continues to grow in appeal each year, not only thanks to municipal efforts but also through the interest of national and international investors.”
AMBASSADOR MORRIS: ‘I’M DEEPLY IMPRESSED’
Ambassador Morris expressed her admiration for both the developments she observed in Fethiye and the detailed information provided by Mayor Karaca, as well as the positive feedback received from local residents. She reiterated her appreciation for the district’s progress and discussed the 2025 tourism season in detail.
ANTICIPATION OF A RECORD-BREAKING SEASON
Ambassador Morris also expressed her gratitude for the hospitality and support shown to British nationals residing in Fethiye, noting that they live in peace and face no major difficulties. According to official data available to the British Embassy, Turkey is expected to welcome around five million British tourists in 2025, with approximately two million expected to choose Fethiye as their holiday destination.
SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN CYCLING EVENTS
Neale Jones, Director of Consular Services at the British Embassy in Ankara, noted that five cyclists from the UK took part in the recent races held in Fethiye. Despite the small number of participants, the event received widespread media coverage in the UK, largely due to the striking drone footage showcasing the region’s natural beauty.
Mayor Karaca took the opportunity to provide further information on the “Antique Pedal” project.
Her Excellency Jill Morris, the British Ambassador to Turkey with Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca
THANK YOU TO FETHIYE MUNICIPALITY AND RESIDENTS
At the conclusion of the visit, Ambassador Jill Morris and her delegation expressed their heartfelt thanks to Fethiye Municipality for their warm hospitality, and to the residents of Fethiye for the kindness and support shown to British nationals living in the area.As a gesture of goodwill, Mayor Karaca presented the guests with gift sets including organic honey, traditional dastar fabric, natural soaps, and a book introducing Fethiye.