BRITS visiting Turkey will need to have a certificate proving they don’t have coronavirus to be allowed to visit, according to the government.
The new regulations were announced by Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy to be introduced following the pandemic.
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He explained to local media that not only will holidaymakers need an official document of their health status, but new measures are being introduced across the tourism industry.
He said: “We have started the certification process to determine the coronavirus-free zones under a system.”
Hotels, airports and attractions will all be sterilised as well as forced to have enough spacing to allow social distancing.
Temperature checks are also likely to be introduced, while staff members will have to comply with similar rules.
Staff will also have to have a Covid-free certificate as well as undergo pandemic training.
While the certifications will be introduced as an international measure, according to the Turkish government, it isn’t yet clear how this will work for British travellers.
The UK doesn’t currently issue the documents, which would require the person to be tested for the antibodies to prove they don’t have it.
Other measures have been looked into, such as an immunity passport which would show the holder has had the virus and no longer has it, but this is still too unreliable.
Another method could involve a quick ten-minute blood test, which Emirates has introduced on one of their flights, to show if travellers have the virus.
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Mr Ersoy explained that Turkey is expected to begin going back to normal life by the second week of May – but tourists will have to wait longer.
The tourism minister added that while some tourists may be welcomed back by the end of June, other countries, including those in Europe, may not be able to enter the country until July.
The country has banned flights from Britain since mid-March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to the country.
Turkey might not be the only country to introduce the Covid-free documents.
Spain and Thailand have also suggested this could be in place for certain resorts, with the latter enforcing the documents for non-residents shortly before lockdown.
Experts are conflicted as to when holidays are likely to resume for Brits this year, but for those who want to book their next trip with confidence – tour operators are offering trips for 2021.
We’ve rounded up some of the best deals for a holiday next year.
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