The Safe Tourism Certification scheme is designed to “validate” the implementation of “high levels” of health and hygiene measures at airlines, airports and other transport stations, accommodation and food and beverage facilities.
The initiative is being run by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and comes after scheduled flights from the UK to Turkey resumed on 11 June - Turkish Airlines resumed Gatwick-Antalya flights this week.
Tourism minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said: “The launch of our Safe Tourism Certification programme further demonstrates that Turkey will take a pioneering role in terms of directing the normalisation of tourism.
“Our new certification programme ensures that tourists can enjoy holidays in Turkey in a safe and hygienic manner and feel comfortable for the duration of their visit.
“We have worked to ensure that the programme covers preventive and protective steps for all aspects of the holiday experience. In order to obtain the certificate, all transportation and accommodation facilities must take all precautions to provide a healthy holiday to guests.”
The Turkish authorities have already scrapped the requirement for UK visitors to obtain a visa this summer.
Arrivals to Turkey will have to undergo a medical evaluation for symptoms of Covid-19 including temperature checks and those showing symptoms will have to take a test.
