UK tourists welcome in Turkey with no jab cards

TURKEY is to announce today that British tourists will be welcome in the country this summer without having to show a vaccination certificate.

Visitors from the UK may not even need to produce a negative PCR test for Covid.

The move puts further pressure on the British Government to allow international travel from May 17.

Tourism minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said the ‘successful vaccination programmes ongoing in both the UK and Turkey will ensure this season is even safer than last year’.

More than 2.5million Britons visit Turkey every year and one in ten jobs there is connected to tourism.

Mr Ersoy added: ‘We have worldclass border processes for ensuring travel will be low-risk throughout the country... we will not require vaccination passports from international travellers when entering the country.’

On the question of PCR tests, the minister said it would be re-evaluated after April 15.

However he expects there to be ‘no such requirement from British visitors as the UK Government is rapidly, and impressively, rolling out vaccination for the whole nation and a significant portion of the population will be vaccinated by early summer’.

Turkey’s Safe Tourism Programme includes giving all those who work in hotels and other tourist-related businesses priority to receive a jab before the start of the summer season.

It also promises to provide testing for tourists before they return to countries such as the UK with these tests at hotels or airports costing approximately £25.

Until now PCR tests for a family of four can cost as much as £500.

Tui, the world’s largest tour operator, said it had seen a surge in bookings to popular Turkish coastal resorts even before today’s announcement.

‘This is great news because our bookings to Turkey have been incredibly strong, second only to Greece,’ said a spokesman. ‘We’re committed to working closely with the Government so our customers can look forward to a much-needed holiday abroad this summer.’

Turkey’s green light to UK visitors follows on the heels of similar declarations from Spain, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus and France.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is leading a travel taskforce and is due to announce on April 12 when international travel can resume. He has, however, confirmed that this will not be before May 17.

Meanwhile a number of airlines have been trialling apps which could be used as proof of vaccination.

Yesterday it was reported that British Airways will launch a digital vaccine passport by May 17 allowing travellers to upload details of their coronavirus jabs or testing on their smartphones.

The airline is also offering passengers who need a negative test before returning to the UK a £33 DIY antigen test kit to take away with them.

‘Britain has developed a strong leadership position and we want to take that forward into restoring travel,’ said chief executive Sean Boyle.