Tag Archives: Turkey

Turkey attracts 16 million foreign tourists between January-August 2021

Turkey welcomed 16 million foreign tourists visitors between January-August 2021, despite the pandemic. Out of this, the number of international visitors who visited Turkey in August is around 4 million. The government of Turkey is carefully & efficiently spearheading the vaccination drive across the country.

Speeding up the COVID 19 vaccination drive across the country, The Republic of Turkey shared the latest numbers and details on vaccine dosage and tourist arrival numbers till 30th September. By the 8th of October 2021, Turkey vaccinated a total of 112 million of its citizens in different stages. While 55 million people have received their first dose; 46 million people have received the second dose and 11 million people have received the third dose. This is impressive vaccination data considering that the total population of Turkey is 83 million.

As per the latest travel guidelines issued by the Turkish Embassy in India last month, the passengers fully vaccinated with WHO or Turkish Government-approved doses will be exempted from mandatory quarantine provided at least 14 days have passed since their last dose. The travellers will need to carry a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR certificate along with them done 72 hours before arrival. In this regard travellers from India who got Covishield or Sputnik V can travel to Turkey without any restriction or quarantine. After Covaxin gets approval from WHO, travellers vaccinated with the same will also be able to visit Turkey without any restriction.

With the revival of tourism, travellers are all enthusiastic about travelling to this country. Indian nationals with valid US, UK, Ireland & Schengen visa can apply for e-visa hassle-free in less than 5 minutes via www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ web page. The visa applications are also open at the Gateway centres in respective cities. The Visa consulates are working with full capacity for sanctioning sticker Visas for Indian travellers.

Despite the fluctuating global scenario of COVID-19 strain, Turkey has kept a strong grip on the COVID-19 situation with guidelines & protocols in place for tourists and businesses associated with tourism. Due to this, the tourist inflow data in Turkey continues to be impressive. Turkey’s ‘Safe Tourism Certification Program’ defines and advises an extensive series of measures to be taken with regards to transportation and accommodation of all Turkish citizens and international visitors who will spend their holidays in Turkey.

Turkey scraps mandatory quarantine rule for fully vaccinated travellers from India

Turkey has announced that fully vaccinated travellers from India will no longer be subjected to a mandatory 14-day quarantine rule, with effect from September 4, 2021.The announcement will ease the travel restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers of 12 years of age and older, travelling from India or those who stayed in India in the last 14 days. The vaccines that have been approved by WHO or the Turkish Government are covered under this exemption.

In addition to WHO-approved vaccines, the vaccines approved by the Turkish Government are Pfizer Biontech, Sputnik V and Sinovac. For the same, a traveller must have taken the second dose (if Johnson&Johnson one dose is sufficient) at least 14 days prior to the date of travel. According to press release, Indian travellers who are vaccinated with Covishield will also be allowed to travel to Turkey. Once, Covaxin get a nod from WHO, travellers vaccinated with the same will also be able to visit Turkey.

The fully vaccinated travellers are also required to submit their negative PCR test report taken 72 hours before departure in order to exempt the quarantine. Non-vaccinated travellers are required to undergo mandatory quarantine for 10 days in a hotel or a location mentioned in the declaration.
Turkey usually announces changes to the travel list, after assessing its criteria like corona virus cases, vaccination roll-outs and possible threats from variants to determine restrictions on different countries. By the 4th of September the Turkish government has successfully vaccinated 79% of its population above 18 of age with first dose and 62 % population above 18 of age with both the doses.

The tourist inflow numbers in Turkey between January-July 2021, despite the pandemic, was recorded at 11.9 million. Just in July 2021 4.3 million international visitors visited Turkey.

Turkey further eases restrictions on international travellers

Turkey has further eased restrictions imposed on travellers, from July 1. The new unlock rules include the removal of the night curfew restrictions, including weekends for locals and tourists. All dining options, restaurants and bars are now functional. Entertainment houses like cinema halls and concert venues are functioning without any restrictions subject to adherence to COVID-19 appropriated guidelines. The 14-day quarantine rule for anyone who has travelled to India within the last 14 days is still in place, but travellers will now have the option of staying at the quarantine hotel of their choice and at their own expense.

Turkey is also undertaking one of the biggest vaccination drives where 42% of the country’s population has received the first dose as of June 30, 2021 and is working dedicatedly to fully vaccinate 70% of the total population by August. The new guidelines have been announced keeping in consideration the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country however hygiene, mask and social distancing rules will be followed throughout.