The hotel operators in Turkey really hurt last year: tourism has slumped by 70 percent compared to 2019 – a shock for this important branch of the economy, which, according to the development organization OECD, has more than two million jobs. In order to save this year’s holiday season, the Turkish Ministry of Tourism is using all means to attract European holidaymakers, especially Germans.
Controversial promotional video: “Have fun, I’m vaccinated”
An official government promotional video caused a stir in mid-May. In this you can see hotel employees who greet their guests with yellow protective masks. It says: “Have fun, I’m vaccinated”.
Due to the currently sluggish vaccination campaign in the country, many Turks felt mocked. They felt like second-class citizens, criticized many on social media. Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu also sharply criticized the slogan. He wrote on Twitter: “Now we finally have a ministry that humiliates its own people.” On the same day, the video was taken off the network again.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted with incomprehension to the criticism of the population at the far-reaching easing for tourists. In a discussion with students said Erdogan: “If the tourists bring only three or five euros into our country, we shouldn’t prevent them.”
Curfew does not apply to tourists
Another reason for excitement: There is currently a weekday curfew between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. throughout the country. On Sundays you can only go out to buy groceries. However, tourists are excluded from this. In addition, there is a general mask requirement in the open air – anyone who does not adhere to them risks fines.
So that holidaymakers in Turkey feel safe during their stay, employees in the tourism sector have the highest vaccination priority. Tourism Minister Nuri Ersoy announced in May that all employees over the age of 20 should be vaccinated once by the end of June.
So far are loud Johns Hopkins University 32.1 million vaccine doses have already been administered in Turkey; 16 percent of the population are completely vaccinated. For comparison: In Germany 57.8 million doses have been administered so far, in this country 23 percent are fully vaccinated. Both countries have a little over 80 million inhabitants.
Corona penalties in Turkey: “For many, almost a month’s salary”
What is it like to travel to Turkey at the moment? The 23-year-old student Emre from Berlin regularly visits family and friends in the country. “My stay in Turkey was actually relaxed. But the rules are much stricter than in Germany, many Turks fear the high fines, ”he said in an interview with FOCUS Online. “For some, that’s almost a month’s salary.”
He is against the fact that Turkey is now trying to bring tourists into the country again with all its might. “Of course, openings are also about the money. But in a few months we will have survived the worst, until then only important trips, such as visiting relatives, should be possible. “
What must currently be considered when traveling to Turkey
The Federal Foreign Office is currently warning on his website even before “unnecessary, tourist trips to the whole of Turkey.” With more than 6400 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants every day, Turkey has been a risk area since June 6th. After arriving in Germany, travelers only have to show a negative rapid test and no longer in Quarantine. A month ago the numbers were more than twice as high.
If you want to go on holiday in Turkey, you must fill out an electronic form from the Turkish Ministry of Health within 72 hours prior to travel. In addition, a quick test must be presented, which must not be older than 48 hours upon entry. Upon successful arrival, each visitor receives an authorization code via SMS or app, which they must show when traveling in the country.