Turquoise Coast, in south-west Turkey, puts everywhere else in the shade

With countries the world over striving to revive their tourism industries after two years in the doldrums, nowhere looks better placed to make a strong comeback than Turkey. Britons have traditionally flocked to this peerless Aegean-Mediterranean destination in their millions (2.5million in 2019 alone) in order to take advantage of the superb weather, some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the Mediterranean, a hinterland littered with stunning ancient sites and one of the finest cuisines in the world.

Early signs of a tourism boom are already very promising – a fact that will not surprise some, given that the country worked extremely hard at the height of the pandemic to keep things ticking over. Tourism forms 12 per cent of this uber-hospitable nation’s GDP, so it’s hardly surprising that they have their own government department, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the current minister, recently announced that passenger levels at Turkish airports rose by an impressive 77 per cent last month, and that numbers passing through Antalya – the major gateway airport to the resorts of the sun-blessed Mediterranean region of Turkey – reached 558,000, close to pre-pandemic levels.

Of course, it helps that although Turkey may be more expensive to get to than Spain or France, it is considerably less expensive once there. According to the cost of living database Numbeo (numbeo.com), a meal out for two at a mid-range restaurant will set you back £43.50 in France and £33.50 in Spain. By comparison, the same dining experience in Turkey costs a mere £12 – that’s £18 less than even Greece, which we often think of as a cheap alternative to the western Mediterranean.

The cost of living has been a topic of much debate recently. In France, it is about seven per cent higher than the UK, and while Spain is 22 per cent lower, Turkey is a whopping 57 per cent lower, helping to explain why holidays here are so appealing – particularly for Britons who are facing a year of tightening their belts.

In fact, prices for visitors in 2022 promise to be even lower than usual, as Turkey is battling rampant inflation, meaning a very healthy exchange rate. If you last visited the country in 2019, you may recall getting a little over seven Turkish lira to the pound, whereas the current rate is more than 18 to the pound. In total, the lira lost 35 per cent of its value against sterling in 2021, giving visitors the kind of purchasing power that really makes a difference to the overall cost of a holiday – especially if you are looking to treat yourself and indulge a little. For 2022, at least, Turkey is offering the best value for Britons in the Mediterranean.

Like many countries across Europe, restrictions have all but disappeared in this Mediterranean idyll and life is slowly getting back to normal. There’s no longer a requirement for fully vaccinated British visitors to take a pre-departure test, merely fill in an online passenger locator form prior to travel – making everything that little bit easier. However, maskwearing remains mandatory in cinemas, museums, concert venues, restaurants and on public transport; it’s also obligatory outside on the street and in public parks – though compliance with the latter is patchy, with many locals sporting their mask on a wrist or under the chin until they spot officialdom. As the warmer