British Tourists Say Turkey ‘Safer Destination’ For Holidays

After the resumption of flights to and from Turkey, British tourists have begun to enjoy summer holidays on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, citing the safety precautions taken to ensure their safety during the COVID-19 outbreak as the reason for this.

One Briton holidaying in Didim, which is a popular resort town in the western province of Aydin, explained that her family had travelled to Turkey shortly after the travel restrictions on tourism had been lifted.

Due to many British Nationals buying property in Didim and making it their permanent home, it had become locally known as ‘Little England’. Over half a million people visit Didim every single summer, including those on day trips to the resort town.

One tourist said: “We already knew this place would have had great standards for a holiday and that the safety measure have been taken.” She also recommended that all tourists should choose Turkey to spend their holidays.

Another tourist, Mr Hutchinson, was quoted saying: “All dishes are cooked separately. All tables, chairs, doors are cleaned regularly. There are disinfectants everywhere. All officers wear masks all the time. We are very impressed with facilities and safety measures.”

Return of British holidaymakers

Early this month, hundreds of British travellers began to fly into to Turkey’s hotspots; this came after the United Kingdom added Turkey to the list of countries that Britons could fly to. They also abolished the 14-days quarantine for those flying back from Turkey and the other countries it allowed. These were deemed to pose a smaller risk to others of COVID-19.

Praise was showered on the measures that Turkey had taken by those holidaymakers arriving from Britain, which ensured a safe and healthy stay for them at the facilities and beaches countrywide.

Another tourist from Britain explained that she had chosen Turkey as it was one of the few destinations that had been deemed safe to travel to during the ongoing pandemic. She observed: “All measures have been taken and their implementation continues. People in our country should not worry about travelling here because all preparations have been completed.”

Necessary preparations

Guests began to be welcomed at tourism facilities and beaches in Turkey after necessary preparations were made in line with the Safe Tourism Certification programme, which was launched jointly by the Transportation Ministry, the Culture and Tourism Ministry and the Foreign Ministry.

The programme set out measures for accommodation, employee facilities, transportation, and the health status of the travellers themselves. Another UK holidaymaker noted that tourism facilities had been extremely strict in following all safety and hygiene measures put in place. “We are vacationing safely. Health standards are certainly higher in Turkey compared to other countries.”

Unpleasant surprise for British vacationers in Spain

Unfortunately, not all those travelling from the UK were able to enjoy their holidays in July, with hundreds of Britons flying home after holidaying in Spain, found they were faced with the government’s decision to enforce a 14-day quarantine.

The Foreign Ministry in Britain advised against travel to the mainland of Spain unless essential; this move is likely to spark holiday tour operators to cancel packages and could well see more tourists choosing Turkey as their chosen summer vacation this year.