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Turkey ramps up vaccination drive to escape the red list
In a bid to accelerate its vaccine drive across the country, Turkey has signed an agreement for 90 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, with an option for 30 million more.
The extra doses will enable Turkey to continue to deliver its roadmap for recovery from the Covid pandemic, and plan for further re-opening of the tourism sector.
In a sign of the recent lockdown in Turkey is working, Covid-19 positive daily infections have fallen by 73% since 1 May.
Turkey is currently on the UK’s red list of countries.
Currently 11.95 million people have been fully vaccinated and 16 million people have received a first dose.
To control the transmission of the variants, Turkey has put in place tougher measures at the borders and flights from Brazil, South Africa and India are suspended.
All passengers arriving into Turkey who have visited these countries within last 10 days will be quarantined for 14 days.
These passengers will also be required to submit, before boarding, a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their departure.
The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, said: "2021 will be a year of safety throughout the tourism season. Around 10,000 tourism facilities and hotels will be certified to ensure they meet the necessary high standard of Covid protocols."
Turkey is investing further in its ‘Safe Tourism Certification Program’ with global safety standards for tourism facilities, including airports, accommodation facilities, restaurants, cafeÌs, culture, art and meetings facilities.
Certification is compulsory for all accommodation facilities with 30 or more rooms.
All hotels certified provide testing facilities for tourists so they can obtain test results, if needed, before departing Turkey for the UK or elsewhere.
PCR tests cost approximately €30 (approx. £26) and can be carried out at Turkey’s international airports.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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