Flock of Britons due as tourists in Turkey at pre-pandemic level.
Turkey hosted more than 4.36 million tourists last month, up by a whopping 367.5% from a year ago when only 932,927 foreigners arrived, data from the Culture and Tourism Ministry showed Monday. Over 2 million tourists had arrived in June, more than doubling the May figure.
The July figure marked the highest level since October 2019 but was still down 86% versus the same month of that year before the eruption of the pandemic dealt a major blow to international travel.
In a separate encouraging development, British media reported over the weekend Turkey could be struck off the U.K.’s red travel list in the coming days.
Turkey is said to be moved to the “amber list,” which would allow double-jabbed Britons and all under 18s to enjoy quarantine-free travel to the country.
Having attracted around 2.3 million British holidaymakers a year before the pandemic, Turkey has been the most popular destination still on the red list, which requires all returning travelers to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days.
Pressure has been mounting for Turkey to be axed from the list ahead of the government’s update to the traffic light system this week, according to The Times.
Paul Charles, the founder of the PC Agency travel consultancy, told The Times: “Turkey very much deserves to be on the amber list as it has some of the best COVID-19 safety policies in place, especially in hotels and other tourist areas and has worked hard to reduce its infection rates.
“Many agree it feels safer there than it does in the U.K.”
