Turkey’s tourism sector expects a strong recovery in 2022, thanks to increased numbers of flights from the UK and buoyant forward bookings.
The latest Turkish government figures show that more than 330,000 British visitors travelled to Turkey in the first 11 months of 2021.
Turkey effectively re-opened to UK travellers from September 23, after it was taken off the UK government’s red list, and the axing of PCR testing requirements by the Turkish government announced on October 1.
A spokesperson for the Turkish tourism board in the UK said: “2022 is set to be a year of strong recovery for Turkey in the UK market.
“The feedback we are receiving from our UK tour operator partners highlights strong levels of forward bookings for summer 2022, supported by an increased number of flights between the UK and Turkey this year.”
Turkey will be served from 17 UK airports to destinations such as Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Izmir, Gaziantep and Ankara, as well as Istanbul.
The spokesperson also highlighted its Safe Tourism Certification Programme, which is compulsory for properties with 30 or more rooms, and a high level of vaccination among the Turkish population, with more than 83% having received two doses.
There has also been a particular focus on the tourist industry with the country’s Tourism Staff Vaccination Programme which started in 2021.
Picture of Antalya Old Town port by Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock