One million visitors to Pamukkale in 2020

Pamukkale in the southwestern area of Turkey is a natural landmark that attracts visitors all year round. Turkey is hoping to see one million tourists in the final 6 months of this year by lifting measure that were imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pamukkale boasts UNESCO World Heritage status due to the pure white travertine terraces and mineral rich thermal waters in the province of Denizli in Turkey.

The President of the Local Tourism and Hotel Management Association, Gazi Murat Sen, explained that although Pamukkale has reopened, there are still strict measures in place to prevent further infection and guests can be assured of the highest hygiene standards.

Precautions to stop the spread of COVID-19

The beginning of June saw Turkey start to slowly lift precautions that have been in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Currently, restaurants, cafes, parks, beaches and similar venues have opened, and Sen confirmed precautions in hotels are at the highest level, adding: “We don’t think there will be any coronavirus cases thanks to the measures taken here.”

Hotels in Pamukkale

Sen stated that it is predicted that around half of the tourists will come from the Far East, saying: “As soon as passenger flights start flying from abroad again, these guests will come immediately.” The hotels in Pamukkale are expecting to welcome 600,000 guests from Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea.

Pamukkale in Turkey

Pamukkale is home to a natural spring and pristine white travertine terraces, it is an incredibly popular area with tourists. The attraction dates from ancient Hierapolis with the pool naturally formed when a series of columns collapsed in 692AD after an earthquake hit the area and caused thermal water to gather. The temperature of the waters is fixed at 96 degrees Fahrenheit all year and visitors flock to bathe in the waters, which are believed to have healing properties.

COVID-19 and Turkey

Turkey has undergone rigorous COVID-19 testing with millions of people tested and the country praised as one of the leading countries dealing with the virus.

COVID-19 first appeared in December 2019 in China and has since spread to almost 200 countries, with the hardest hit countries including Brazil, Russia the United States, and various European countries. The John Hopkins University has complied figures that show there has been over 13 million cases in total around the world to date with over 5 million cases currently active.