Historic Kayaköy Village Name Change To Be Decided By Referendum

The ancient town of Kayaköy, which is now run as a museum village, in the Fethiye district of the Muğla province, has decided to hold a public referendum on a potential name change.

The village, which has a population of only 500 people, consists of dilapidated but standing Greek-style houses and churches that encourage tourist visits.

Resident Eren Gemi Eroğlu recently applied for the town's name to be changed from Kayaköy to Kayı, the name of the historic Turkic Kayı tribe, casting aside any doubts that the switch would cause problems for its tourism industry.

“I applied for the name to be changed because the current name is incorrect, just as we applied for the Keçiler neighborhood to be changed to the Karakeçiler,” said Eroğlu. “Now the decision has been made for Kayaköy's name change to go to a referendum.

“The town is known as Kayaköy to everyone living in Turkey, but foreigners know it as Livissi. … I do not think this will pose a problem for the tourism sector,” he added.

Fatih Yılmaz Muğla (Cihan/Today's Zaman)