In this week’s round up of the local news a road accident claims two lives, tourist demand up, schools out for summer and it will be a long break.

Accident Claims Two, Injures Many

On Sunday 7th a horrific traffic accident happened at the junction of the main road into Fethiye and the dual carriageway that goes to ơlış. 

A small coach going to Ortaca was driving along the main road when a pickup truck shot out from the ơlış road and hit the coach. 

The 70-year-old driver of the truck and his 24-year-old passenger were killed, and her one-year-old daughter seriously injured. 

Eight passengers on the coach had minor injuries.

Tourists Demand Turkey

And more good news for the local tourist industry. 

One of Turkey’s largest owners of hotels and resorts, the ETS group, announced this week that advanced bookings are up 22% on last year. 

Whilst the numbers of Dutch, Russian and Ukrainian bookings are down, this has been offset by an increase in bookings from Britain, Germany and actual Turks. 

So foreigners staying in all-inclusive places may actually get to meet Turks on holiday.

Schools Out Watch Out!

And talking of holidays, schools in Turkey closed on Friday 12th June for the long summer vacation. 

Whilst this means an end to the frantic traffic in Fethiye around school pickup time in the afternoons, it also means people all over Turkey will be taking to the roads, often in heavily laden vehicles, to go on holiday. 

So be extra careful on the roads, especially if you are driving after dark. 

The Best Days of Your Life

The Director of Education for Fethiye announced that almost 34,000 children collected their end of year reports on Friday and some 2,400 teachers started their well-earned summer rest. 

Schools re-open on 24 September after the Bayram which follows the Ramazan fast. 

So an extra-long summer holiday this year.