Turkey gears for tourism in summer with heightened safety measures

Turkey is ready for 2021 summer season with heightened safety measures. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) hosted the ambassadors of foreign missions, in the Safe Tourism event held in Antalya, Turkey from May 21 to 23. The Indian Ambassador to Turkey also graced the event with his presence and experienced the measures on-site. The Ministry aims to ensure that all safe tourism measures are experienced directly by the representatives of foreign missions to Turkey. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Turkey spoke about the preparations for the 2021 summer season and stated in his speech that, "As a leading country in Safe Tourism, Turkey welcomed more than 16 million guests in 2020, and we are looking forward to 2021 to be a year of heightened safety in tourism season. We are ready for the Summer 2021 season with more than 10,000 certified tourism facilities across Turkey.” While addressing the ambassadors during the event, Minster Ersoy also mentioned that, “Tourism safety has been our top priority over the last year and we had a successful season of certification programme that has become one of the best practices worldwide. In our national vaccination programme, more than 27 million doses of vaccine have been applied to Turkish citizens to date. The vaccination programme, in which we prioritise tourism workers, will continue to accelerate in June,” added Minister Ersoy. Launched by Turkey in June 2020, the Safe Tourism Certificate certifies compliance with global safety standards for tourist spots, accommodation facilities and airports. The Certificate has been awarded to more than 9,800 businesses as it enters its second year and includes various restaurants, cultural venues, congress facilities, marine tourism facilitates, theme parks and ski lift facilities. Starting in 2021, Turkey made this certificate compulsory for all accommodation facilities with a bed capacity of 30 and above. Turkey has also given priority to tourism personnel within the scope of the national vaccination programme and is ready for 2021 summer with high safety standards.