The Turkish tourism sector is going through a difficult period. The sixth most popular destination in the world has been affected by waves of restrictions and cancellations around the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Turkey has enjoyed a record point in 2019 with more than forty-five million foreign visitors. The tourism sector is a vital source of foreign exchange for Turkey, helping to involve the energy-importing country’s huge account deficit. Last year, the country controlled to record its first existing account surplus in 18 years.
But now its tourism sector is badly affected mid-season due to the pandemic that has led to waves of restrictions and cancellations.
Many restaurants and outlets have closed permanently due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus and those still open are suffering to make ends meet.
Although some tourists still defy the warnings, enjoying their holidays in Turkey, many others prefer to stay at home.
The president of the Turkish Hotel Federation, Sururi Oorabatar, said there has been a drop in holiday bookings, as many airlines reduced the number of their flights by 50% with most countries.
With the onset of the global pandemic, Turkey has followed precautionary measures to involve the spread of the virus within borders. Tourist sites, entertainment venues and grocery shopping malls were also closed as a component of the general blockade facing the country. However, in June, Turkey began to make the measures more flexible.
Some new measures have already been followed at airports and grocery shopping centres, such as PCR testing. Meanwhile, the masks are in public places.
Previously, Turkey’s tourism minister said Turkey was considered the safest in European countries because of its strict precautionary measures in combating the pandemic.
To date, more than 727 hotels and approximately 900 restaurants have won the “Safe Tourism Certification” indicating that they have taken popular steps to prevent COVID-19 infection.
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