A fresh warning has been issued to holidaymakers either planning a trip to Turkey or already in the country. Turkey, with its major cities like Antalya and Istanbul, is a favourite tourist spot attracting millions of visitors each year.
On March 24, the Foreign Office alerted travellers about ongoing demonstrations and protests in Istanbul and other Turkish cities. The travel advisory body cautioned that “demonstrations may become violent. The police response has included use of tear gas and water cannons.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides travel advice to assist British nationals in making informed decisions about overseas travel. It focuses on safety and security, offering information about potential risks and how to stay safe abroad.
In light of the current situation in Turkey, the FCDO advises you should:
- monitor local media
- plan ahead to avoid disruption
- avoid crowds and demonstrations
Tensions have escalated in the region due to events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This has led to large-scale demonstrations outside diplomatic missions related to the conflict, particularly Israeli diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul, reports Liverpool Echo.
The FCDO strongly advises all UK tourists in Turkey to “avoid all demonstrations and leave the area if one develops. Local transport routes may be disrupted.” The government body also warns: “FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the Turkey-Syria border.”
UK citizens planning to visit Turkey must ensure their passport has an “expiry date” at least 150 days after their arrival date and contains at least one blank page. If these requirements are not met, entry into Turkey will be denied, and attempting to enter the country with an invalid travel document or a passport reported lost or stolen will also result in denied entry.
Additionally, a separate travel warning issued in February on the government website advised against consuming alcohol in Turkey, citing instances where people died or suffered serious illness after drinking counterfeit alcohol. The UK government issued an alert regarding illegal alcohol production, stating: “In Turkey, including Ankara and Istanbul, people have died or suffered serious illness after drinking illegally produced local spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol.”
The government has encouraged tourists to seek advice from either tour operators or Turkish authorities for guidance on alcohol consumption.
If travellers experience symptoms of illness following alcohol consumption while in Turkey, they should seek “urgent medical attention” to safeguard both their health and the health of those around them. The UK Foreign Office has provided guidance on safe alcohol purchase and consumption, detailing five methods to protect travellers choosing to buy and consume alcohol while in the country.
- buy alcoholic beverages only from licensed liquor stores
- buy drinks only at licensed bars and hotels
- avoid home-made alcoholic drinks
- check bottle seals are intact
- check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling