The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for Brits heading to Turkey, following the deaths and serious injuries to UK tourists
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an updated travel advisory for British tourists planning trips to Turkey. The FCDO, tasked with providing up-to-date travel guidance for around 226 international destinations, has highlighted new concerns in its latest update.
The recent alert, released on Tuesday, May 20, comes in the wake of several incidents involving UK tourists who have either died or sustained serious injuries in Turkey. The Foreign Office has cautioned: “Paragliding is an extreme sport and carries the risk of serious injury or death.
“British nationals have died or been seriously injured whilst paragliding in Turkey. Ensure you receive full instructions and training before your activity.
“If you are near where paragliding activities take place, be aware that the landing area may be in a public area. Maintain a reasonable distance from potential landing zones for your personal safety.”
With Turkey being a favoured holiday spot for many Brits, the standing advice includes recommendations to purchase alcoholic drinks only from reputable sources such as licensed shops, bars, and hotels.
Tourists are advised to steer clear of homemade spirits, ensure bottle seals haven’t been tampered with, and scrutinise labels for signs of substandard quality or misspellings, reports the Liverpool Echo.
In case of illness following alcohol consumption, immediate medical help should be sought.
Brits jetting off to Turkey are also being reminded to check the validity of their passport before travelling. The government has issued a warning that anyone entering the country must have a passport that is valid for at least 150 days from the date of arrival and has at least one blank page.
Visitors can stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period for business or tourism without needing a visa.
The advice on Gov.uk states: “If entering at a land border, make sure officials stamp and date your passport at the border crossing. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements.
“Renew your passport if you need to. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.”
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Earlier this month, vaping specialists at WickdUp issued a caution for those jetting off to Turkey’s popular resorts, as there has been a rise in complaints from British tourists facing difficulty sourcing basic vaping supplies after their arrival.
In Turkey, while using vapes is permitted, strict marketing and sales regulations aimed at tobacco products mean many shops, especially in tourist areas, have ceased stocking items such as disposable vapes, cartridges, or e-liquids.
WickdUp’s vaping aficionado Mike Byers commented: “We’ve heard of so many travellers returning from Antalya, Marmaris and Bodrum saying they were caught completely off guard.
“Shops that once stocked basic vape gear now won’t sell it at all – and if you’re used to picking up supplies on arrival, you could be left without.”
