The UK government has implemented additional security measures in several countries, including Turkey, due to heightned risks of terrorism against aviation but direct flights continue to depart from the UK to a number of Turkish holiday resorts. Tourists should co-operate fully with security officials and obey to the information and advice about how this may affect your flight or any other aspect of your trip, including if you’re travelling through Turkey on the way to or from the UK.
Read on for the latest travel advice from GOV.UK.
Travelling to Turkey
Where Shouldn't I Go?
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to within 10 km of the border with Syria and to the city of Diyarbakir.
The FCO advise against all but essential travel to:
- The remaining areas of Sirnak, Mardin, Sanliurfa, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Kilis and Hatay provinces.
- The provinces of Siirt, Tunceli and Hakkari.
Where Can I Go?
Popular holiday resorts such as Antalya, Marmaris and Bodrum are deemed safe to travel to, though tourists are urged to check the latest advice before departing.
Travelling in Turkey
Are People Still Going on Holiday to Turkey?
In 2016, British nationals made over 1.7 million visits to Turkey. It’s deemed generally safe to travel to Turkey but tourists are urged to:
- Be alert to your surroundings and remain vigilant in crowded places popular with foreign nationals, especially during festival periods such as Christmas & New Year.
- Follow media reporting about the country and region.
- Think about the routes you use and have a plan of action in the event of an incident.
- Keep your mobile phone charged and with you, with emergency numbers programmed in.
- Tell family, colleagues, neighbours or trusted hotel staff about where you’re going and when you plan to return.
- Identify places where you could seek refuge in an emergency.
- Consider the extent to which you might stand out from the crowd, particularly when travelling off the beaten track or to out-of-town destinations.
Is There Anything Else I Should Know About?
Official or unofficial rallies and demonstrations may take place at short notice. You should stay well away from any demonstrations.
What About if I Come Across a Police Checkpoint?
In some busy areas, especially Istanbul, the Turkish authorities are stopping members of the public to conduct ID checks. There’s also a larger than usual number of police checkpoints on main roads across Turkey. You should co-operate with officials conducting checks, and keep your passport and a printed copy of your e-visa or your residence permit with you at all times.
Travelling From Turkey
Have Any New Procedures Been Put in Place? How Will They Affect Me?
Yes. Last month, the government announced new aviation security measures on all inbound flights to the UK from six countries, including Turkey.
Under the new arrangements, passengers boarding flights to the UK will not be allowed to take large phones, laptops, tablets or e-readers into the cabin of the plane that exceed any of the following dimensions:
- Length: 16.0cm.
- Width: 9.3cm.
- Depth: 1.5cm.
What Else Can I Not Take on Board?
The following will also not be allowed in the cabin:
- Keyboards.
- Power cable transformers.
- External hard drives.
The following will not be allowed on board the aircraft in either cabin or hold baggage:
- Spare or separate device batteries.
- Portable power sources.
Where Can I Find More Information About This?
Existing safety regulations mean that spare batteries and portable power sources can no longer be carried on board aircraft in either cabin or hold baggage. Passengers should contact their airline for further information.
Please note that the above restrictions relate to inbound UK flights from Turkey and the other six affected countries only.
Visas
Do I Need a Visa to Visit Turkey?
British nationals need a visa to enter Turkey, except for cruise ship passengers with British Citizen passports who arrive at sea ports for tourist visits to the port city or nearby cities, provided that the visit doesn’t exceed 72 hours.
Where Can I Get One And How Much is it?
You can get an e-Visa online before you travel through the official Republic of Turkey e-Visa website. An e-Visa costs $20 and you can pay using a credit or debit card. You can apply up to 3 months in advance of your travel date. Turkish visit visas issued on arrival are valid for multiple stays up to a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period.
The information in this post has been taken from www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey.Please refer to www.gov.uk/ for current, up-to-date travel advice.
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