As Turkey opens the official season for tourism, the measures countrywide begin showing promising results for everyone. According to the latest statements made by the Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca, the corona cases are continuing to decrease. The radical drop in the numbers compared to the last two months of 2021 is also a win for business owners in the country.
The overall accomplishment is due to consistent lockdowns and limits on intercity travel for Turkish citizens for months now. While the restriction on the reopening of restaurants and cafes for public service currently gets lifted, the remaining regulations the owners should comply with need a highlight. They can only serve 50% less than their usual customer capacity with personnel wearing full mask coverage. The customers should also follow the rules of protecting their distance from others in places and wearing masks if not consuming. The opening hours are currently between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Besides the places getting open, the weekend restriction has gotten reduced to only Sundays. Restaurants and cafes are only allowed to make delivery and take-outs on Sundays. You may prepare yourself for this current restriction if you plan to travel to Turkey soon.
Although overall measures are not gone entirely, the stores, malls, museums, and sports centers are available for visiting. It’s an opportunity to take tours around the main shopping spots in Istanbul or go to a museum on the weekends.
We can safely say that the hotels in the country are subject to high standard health measures as well. Since Turkey appreciates its tourism as one of the most economical contributors to the GDP, there is no room left for inaccuracy in the hospitality sector. A certificate program called “Safe Tourism Certificate” has begun by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to prepare every accommodation place for guests under safety measures. Tourism workers underwent specific hygiene courses and exams as part of this program. Furthermore, the authorities stated that certified facilities get inspected regularly, and their documents get renewed every month.
As of June 2021, the turn for the vaccination also came to the younger segment, reaching the total number to over 34 million doses. The rapid increase in the vaccination process brings expectations to hit higher numbers in the following days as new vaccines arrive.