Is It Safe To Travel To Turkey?

Turkey is still one of the most sought after tourist destinations with over 30 million tourists visiting the country per annum due to historical sites, delicious food, beautiful beach fronts and pocket friendly prices. However, recent incidents have made some travelers wonder whether or not it is safe to travel to Turkey anymore. Below is a brief on the current state of affairs and measures to take to enhance safety while in Turkey.

Terrorism and Security Risk

Turkey, unfortunately, experienced an increase in the number of lethal terrorist attacks in the recent years targeting Istanbul and Ankara cities. Some have been particularly aimed at tourists. They include ISIS/Daesh and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) who are at odds with Turkish armed forces.

The encouraging news is that after Turkey has tightened security and controlled the terrorist cells, the occurrence of terrorist incidents has significantly reduced since 2017. The Turkish police and security forces are present more than before, especially in areas most frequented by tourists such as Istanbul’s Old City, Hagia Sophia and others.

Although it will always be possible for a terrorist act to happen anywhere in the world, as of the present time, Turkey is as safe as any other developed countries like France, United Kingdom or Germany to visit at the moment. It is very unlikely for a tourist to be involved in a terrorist attack in any of the mentioned countries. But the travelers should be cautious and refrain from attending large public protests or any political meetings.

Stay Informed With The New Travel Alerts

It is always advisable to review the latest travel warnings released by various foreign administrations to Turkey, preferably the country of your origin. The US, UK, Canada and most European countries constantly update their travel advice concerning threats to tourists in Turkey.

These advisories shall be objective and balanced as they will be prepared based on the latest intelligence information. Precautions against accidents could be advised, especially in crowded areas frequented by tourists in Istanbul, Ankara and other large cities. Some governments may currently issue a warning against all unnecessary travel to within 25 kilometers of any border with Syria or Iraq.

Regional Areas To Avoid

However, in general one can say that the vast majority of Turkey is completely safe for tourists and this particularly applies to such famous tourist attractions as Cappadocia, Istanbul, Ephesus, Bodrum, Troy or the beach resorts of the southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. However some of the regions bordering Syria and Iraq that are closer to hot areas are still unsafe for now.

This also extends to territories near the Syrian city of Aleppo and most of the lengthy mountainous border with Iraq near Iran. Some of these regions experience a few incidences of terrorism and military related violence. As to here, people are endangered to stray down here and tourism is out of question. Turkish security forces also continue anti-terrorist operations in some rural areas away from the borders of the country, limiting Free movement.

Employ basic safety measures that would ordinarily be expected, without necessarily making a fuss about it.

While the situation has now stabilized in Turkey's main tourism destinations, foreign visitors should still take common sense precautions for safety and peace of mind:While the situation has now stabilized in Turkey's main tourism destinations, foreign visitors should still take common sense precautions for safety and peace of mind:

• Terrorism is an issue and one should be careful when in major cities and areas that attract tourists. Do not attend protest or any political related events that may inadvertently put you in the cross hairs.
  
• - Follow the most recent security warning from your embassy, or government travel advisory. Adhere to any instructions.
  
• This creates the need to avoid more risky border regions as detailed above in order to reduce the threat posed by spillover conflict.
  
• Avoid any politics as there is still animosity between the Kurds and Turks due to the failed peace talks.
  
• Stick to the official taxis rather than the unauthorized cabs that you may find on the streets. It is advisable to fix the charges before hiring and also get an approved busy labeled taxi ranks at airport, hotel, or tourist area.
  
• Be more cautious in the areas such as big transportation terminals or famous tourist attractions. If you see baggage left behind or any suspicious activity, report it immediately but do not get alarmed.

However, it is worth remembering that the overwhelming majority of visits to Turkey are uneventful and dangers should not be exaggerated. Foreign tourists have a great incentive to avoid incidents in Turkey since the government understands that tourism is one of its major sources of income contributing 6.1% towards the countries GDP. Extra security is now well established to guard major attractions in Istanbul, Cappadocia and other major coastal areas and other major tourist destinations in Turkey.

Hence, the question, Is Turkey safe for tourists?, can be considered pertinent and timely.

As long as those visitors steer clear of the prohibited border areas and follow standard safety measures, the outlook for visits to the country is positive. The risk of being involved in a terrorist attack or any form of violence is relatively small and not significantly larger than many other countries that receive far more tourists.

Currently, all the government bodies, more or less, view Turkey as safe for tourism and advise only standard security precautions. While the everyday life in Istanbul, in the Turkish provinces’ quiet seashores, and the historical areas such as Cappadocia remain undisturbed. Residents retain their warm-hearted hospitality and are always ready to welcome tourists from other countries.

The same is like when visiting any other country and one should always ensure they check on the latest security concerns by checking on the travel advisories. However, for those passionate about exploring the unique fusion of Oriental and Occidental civilizations, incredible antiquities, and routes of the fabulous Silk Road, it is safe to tour Turkey in 2022 and beyond if the necessary precautions are observed.

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