Crisis in Turkey: vacationers are in danger - cancel now!

Crisis in Turkey: vacationers are in danger - cancel now!

The political Situation in Turkey has developed in the past few weeks, which has a strong impact on the tourism industry. After the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, there were massive protests and unrest in several cities, including Ankara and Izmir. On May 1, 2023 alone, around 400 people were arrested in Istanbul. This uncertain situation is tightened by a recent earthquake in mid -April 2023, which makes the security situation even more difficult for tourists. Consumer advocates Ron Perduss warns travelers and recommends canceling travel in crisis regions such as Turkey. He emphasizes that cancellations are often difficult for Turkey because many inquiries are rejected and offers tips on travel cornation in a video series to assist consumers in this high uncertainty. Derwesten reported

At the same time, countries like Israel and Ukraine continue to advertise tourists, although they are also in crisis mode. However, the highly increased security risks have led to many vacationers refraining from a trip to Turkey. The Federal Foreign Office initially published travel instructions for Turkey, but without expressing an explicit travel warning. It should be noted that these mere indications are not sufficient to enable free cancellation of a booked trip. However, some tour operators are accommodating and offer rebookings.

security situation and recommendations

The current security situation in Turkey requires increased attention from travelers. Urgent travel warnings apply in particular to the border areas of Iraq and Syria, such as the provinces Şanlıurfa, Mardin, Sırnak and Hakkâri. Even in large cities such as Ankara and Istanbul, political protests can lead to traffic disruptions and failures in local public transport. Travelers should avoid crowds of people and demonstrations because they can be potentially dangerous.

In order to ensure your security, the Federal Foreign Office recommends that you enter into a crisis list and pay attention to the latest news and weather reports during your stay. It is advisable to have sufficient travel health insurance protection and to find out about the entry requirements from the responsible authorities. With regard to the financial caution, the authority warns of an increase in counterfeiting foreign banknotes, especially in Istanbul.

travel information and behavioral information

travelers to Turkey should also be aware that German citizens may be arbitrarily arrested or prevented from entering. The frequent reason for such arrests is suspected of supporting terrorist organizations, which further tenses the security situation. Participations in political activities in Germany have led to problems in the past.

The crime rate is generally low, but visitors should exercise caution from pickpockets and fraud cases. Women in particular report sexual assault, which requires additional caution. Due to the geographical location, Turkey is also affected by natural disasters, such as earthquakes and forest fires, which can occur frequently in the summer months. The Federal Foreign Office provides detailed information on these topics and recommends adapting to local customs during the stay.