Britain extends lifeline to Turkish tourism by lifting quarantine rule
Turkey hopes visitors from the United Kingdom will help offset the deep losses its coronavirus-hit tourism industry is expected to suffer this summer season and is pushing the European Union to reconsider its "safe list" that excluded the Mediterranean destination.
ISTANBUL — Britain is scrapping a quarantine requirement for Turkey this week, offering a lifeline to a tourism industry hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic and snubbed by the European Union, which excluded the Mediterranean country from its “safe list” of countries for travel.
The pandemic has plunged the world’s tourism industry into free fall as countries imposed strict travel restrictions and canceled international flights earlier this year to stop the spread of the deadly disease. The United Nations said losses in tourism will shave at least 1.5% off of the global economy this year.
Tourism accounts for about 10% of Turkey’s economy, brings in tens of billions of dollars in hard currency and employs millions of people. International travel restrictions crushed the industry in April and May, the traditional start of the season, when a mere 54,000 foreigners arrived in Turkey, compared to 7.3 million in the same two months of 2019.
In a bid to lure back visitors this summer, the Tourism Ministry unveiled a “safe tourism” initiative last month. The concept applies to airports, transportation, hotels and tourism sites such as archaeological parks and museums. Measures include social distancing, limits on capacity and regular disinfection of shared spaces. Some 500 hotels, restaurants and other businesses have been certified after they met dozens of hygiene requirements.
