Recent figures released by the travel industry show that bookings to Turkey are down by around 40%, with travellers worried by both the terror attacks which have hit the headlines in the past months and the ongoing war in neighbouring Syria along with the subsequent refugee crisis. A slump in demand for Turkish holidays could be a positive thing – a lack of demand can mean that there are some real bargains out there for customers who are prepared to shop around. But is travel to Turkey safe, and what precautions should British travellers take?
FCO Advice
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is the best place to start when looking for up to date government advice on travel anywhere in the world. Their website is regularly updated, and wherever you are planning on travelling, it’s worth reading through the information on the site. Current advice is to avoid all travel to the Turkish provinces bordering Syria, but these are many hundreds of miles from the coastal resorts and unlikely to appeal to tourists. Tourists are warned about the high risk of terrorism, primarily affecting the main cities of Ankara or Istanbul, again a long way from the holiday areas. Security is tight at all airports, so expect thorough searches and checks before boarding planes. UK nationals need a Visa to travel to Turkey, and this has to be organised online before you depart.
Booking A Holiday to Turkey
One of the best ways to protect yourself against future problems in Turkey is to book a package holiday with an operator which is ATOL and ABTA bonded. That means that if the situation deteriorates and the UK government advise against travel to Turkey, your travel agent will either give your money back, or allow you to transfer your holiday to a different destination. If you book flights and accommodation separately, you have far less protection, although you may be able to claim money back if you book on a credit card. Once your holiday is booked, keep up to date with the current news regarding the situation in Turkey, but remember too that 4.5 million UK citizens visit the country every year, and most have a fabulous holiday. When you are in the resort, take advice and guidance from hotel staff and your holiday rep – they can give guidance on any particular security issues or crime problems in the immediate area.
Insurance for Turkey
It’s easy to get caught up with worrying about the political situation in Turkey and lose sight of the other issues which are much more likely to affect your holiday such as illness or theft. Turkey is not one of the countries which recognise the EHIC agreement for reciprocal healthcare, so comprehensive travel and medical insurance is a must. Check the terms and conditions of your insurance policies carefully and make sure that you have adequate cover for repatriation in a medical emergency and that you declare all your valuable items – it is far more likely that you will have a smartphone stolen than being caught in a terrorist attack.