Turkey, the queen of all-inclusive vacations, is finally back – what will be different this year?

How has Turkey itself changed now? With the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, the country has reinstated the limitations, also scheduled for the month of Ramadan, which begins on April 13. The curfew has been introduced, but it does not apply to tourists, it is only valid for locals. As a result, the Turks themselves have expressed their dissatisfaction with that they cannot leave home in the evenings and on weekends, and here tourists are free to enjoy their freedom.

On the other hand, Ankara’s decision can be understood: tourism is one of the most important sectors of the economy in Turkey, so the country, which has already lost millions of travelers as a result of last year’s pandemic, is trying to attract tourists. as much as possible. To this end, Turkey has set very high security requirements: hotels, airlines and carriers must obtain special certificates, which are updated monthly.

There is no curfew for tourists, but due to the pandemic, there are still several restrictions that even travelers will not be able to avoid. Non-hotel restaurants can only carry takeout, and hotels can only serve their guests.

Masks should be worn in public, keeping distances as far as possible, disinfecting hands. The number of people on public transport is limited, even in some crowded public spaces. It is advisable to have confirmation of your accommodation when you leave the hotel.

An interview with Gidu Aukštuolis, director of the tour operator Tiketa Tour (ex Kidy Tour), on what to expect from this year’s season in Turkey. The conversation was supplemented by advice from the Estravel travel agency.