Turkey will open COVID-19 testing centers at airports in Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir and Dalaman by July 1.
A test, which will cost 15 euros (TL 115), will produce results that can be obtained within two hours. Local health centers will also be informed, and tourists will be able to take tests whenever they want, said Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
Foreign tourists from certain countries have begun to arrive in the country, and the numbers will increase in the upcoming weeks as more countries lift restrictions on international travel.
The country has launched a “healthy tourism certificate” program, issued under the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s leadership and run in partnership with the Foreign Ministry, looking to convince countries and travelers that despite the pandemic, Turkey’s beaches and historic treasures will be safe to visit this year.
The program covers a broad range of safety measures in transport, accommodation and health conditions both for hospitality employees and tourists.
The certificate, which has been granted by international certification institutions, validates the execution of high-level health and hygiene requirements at airline companies, airports and other transport stations, as well as in accommodation outlets and food and beverage facilities.
The first COVID-19 testing centers will be opened at Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir and Dalaman by July 1, while they will be established in other airports by July 15.
Ersoy said they have carried out intense diplomacy work with Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu during the normalization process.
Documents on health infrastructure, preparations and measures in tourism areas were sent to 100 countries from which Turkey attracts the most tourists, Ersoy said, adding that ambassadors of 60 countries and permanent foreign press members in Turkey were invited to Antalya.
Due to the pandemic, the number of foreigners visiting the country plummeted 66.35% in the January-May period on an annual basis, according to the Culture and Tourism Ministry data.
U.K. to ink quarantine-free deal with Turkey
Much depends on talks to begin flights from Russia, Germany and Britain – also hard hit by the virus – which are top markets for Turkey, where tourism accounts for up to 12% of the economy.
Britain is said to be on the verge of signing quarantine-free deals with countries such as Turkey, France, Spain, Greece and Italy, according to reports in British media.
Britons will be able to take quarantine-free holidays up to a fortnight in length with the government set to announce “air corridors” with a series of destinations.
Ersoy added that more than 727 hotels and some 900 restaurants applied for the “safe tourism” certificate that will indicate they took standard measures to prevent COVID-19 infections.
(Source: Sabah)