A Chinese Wave in Babadağ: One in Every Three Paragliders in the Skies Over Ölüdeniz Is Chinese
China's Golden Week holiday boosted tourism in Fethiye. Cooperative manager Zafer Şekerci said there was a high volume of Chinese tourists on the Babadağ flights.
This article was translated automatically from Turkish. Türkçe orijinal ›
The "Golden Week" holiday, observed in China from October 1 to 7, had an impact on Fethiye’s paragliding sites. Chinese tourists, who took a long vacation to celebrate their country’s National Day, are taking flights from Babadağ, located at an elevation of 1,965 meters in the Ölüdeniz neighborhood.
Accompanied by pilots, tourists take off from the launch sites to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Ölüdeniz cove and Belcekız Beach. Activity at the launch sites on Babadağ has increased during this period of heavy flight traffic.
“One in every three people is Chinese”
Zafer Şekerci, a member of the Board of Directors of the Ölüdeniz Paragliding Pilots Cooperative, noted that Fethiye and Ölüdeniz are among the world’s leading centers for paragliding. Noting the recent influx of Chinese tourists, Şekerci said, “We can say that one out of every three people paragliding from Babadağ is Chinese. The number of Chinese tourists is rising every day.”
Şekerci also noted that the International Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival, to be held in the region, will contribute to flight numbers and regional tourism. Emphasizing that all necessary safety precautions are taken during flights, Şekerci invited everyone interested in paragliding to Ölüdeniz.
Tourists are leaving satisfied with the scenery
Jiayi Sahan, a Chinese tourist paragliding for the first time, noted that the region is one of the world’s leading paragliding centers and said she found the experience both safe and fun. Another Chinese tourist, Cai Xiaogian, said he enjoyed the scenery in Fethiye and plans to go on a second flight.
Babadağ: The driving force behind Fethiye tourism
Located just behind Ölüdeniz and featuring runways at various elevations, Babadağ allows for paragliding year-round. Since the cable car line began operating, the number of visitors to the region has increased, and paragliding has become one of Fethiye’s strongest attractions outside of marine tourism. You can follow tourism developments in Fethiye and the surrounding area on our tourism news page.
What is Golden Week?
"Golden Week" refers to the official holiday spanning one week centered around October 1, National Day, which marks the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. During this period, millions of Chinese citizens travel both domestically and abroad. In recent years, Turkey has also been among the top destinations chosen by Chinese visitors during this holiday period.
