Is it safe to travel to Turkey? Could post-earthquake vacation help recovery?
hen a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck parts of the country and Syria nearly six weeks ago, our first thoughts went to the victims of an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe.
More than 50,000 people lost their lives. A scary recovery has begun, and political wrangling over preparedness and emergency response continues.
But it won’t be long before people who have booked a holiday in Turkey are concerned about their safety. Or that potential bookers hesitate.
It’s natural. It happened in the days after the 2021 volcano eruption on La Palma in the Canary Islands and the 2011 Japanese tsunami and earthquake. It happens regularly when hurricanes hit parts of the southern US.
What is interesting in this case, however, is that although Irish bookings to Turkey initially slowed, tour operators such as Blue Sea Holidays, Cassidy Travel, clickandgo.com and Sunway say they soon snapped back.
“Click&Go has suspended marketing activities for Turkey holidays as it was inappropriate to promote holidays while Turkey and Syria made headlines after the earthquake,” said CEO Paul Hackett.
Bookings went down, he says, but are now back to normal. Sunway is similar, reporting “no actual cancellations”.
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Rescue workers search for survivors under the rubble after an earthquake in Diyarbakir, Turkey. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar
“Both earthquakes occurred several hundred kilometers from main tourist areas such as Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman, with airlines and accommodation providers continuing normal operations in these areas,” says the commercial director of loveholidays.ie Clem Walshe.
Turkey has become a popular destination for Irish sun-seekers, with good value for money resorts such as Bodrum and Kusadasi.
It’s not as well-known as hotspots like the Canary Islands or the Algarve, and President Erdoğan’s increasingly autocratic style and the fact that it’s outside the EU may put some travelers off. But direct flights are on the rise, Istanbul is an amazing city break, and Hackett says his sun vacation bookings are already about 25 percent ahead of 2022.
Tourism is extremely vulnerable to disasters. Vacations are trivial compared to the human impact of war, natural and weather disasters, but it’s also true that they can aid in recovery. Think of the rebuilding of communities after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami or New York’s call for a return after 9/11.
In Ukraine, where Russia’s war continues, international tourism is impossible. However, domestic travel to parts of the country is not, and tourism is encouraged as a way of supporting the economy. If and when the war ends, we will surely see that internationally as well – a call for visitors to a broken nation.
Today the Foreign Office (dfa.ie/travel) advises Irish citizens to exercise “a high degree of caution” in Turkey and to avoid areas affected by the earthquake.
In the sunbathing areas, on the other hand, business is as usual.
Unfortunately, disasters happen. My advice to vacationers is to read DFA travel advice, get solid travel insurance weeks in advance of your trip, and consider booking with a travel agent who can help you change arrangements in an emergency.
Also remember that passports for Turkey must be valid for at least six months after your arrival.
Five travel offers for Turkey
Sun has seven-night packages to Kusadasi with accommodation at the four-star Golden Day Wings Hotel from €329 per person from April 12. Prices start from €549 per person in June or €749 per person in July and include flights, transfers and 30kg of checked baggage. sunway.ie
LoveHolidays.ie is offering seven-night packages to Bodrum with accommodation at the five-star Diamond of Bodrum Hotel from €596 per person all-inclusive from May 3rd. loveholidays.ie
ClickAndGo.com The top-selling property is said to be the four-star Palmin Hotel in Kusadasi. Prices for 7-night all-inclusive packages (drinks included) start at €489 pp in April and €759 pp in June. It is flown with Aer Lingus. clickandgo.com
Vacation on the blue sea offers all-inclusive packages for seven nights at the five-star Le Bleu Hotel & Resort in Kusadasi from €749 per person on various dates in April. Call 01 539-8437 to book.
Cassidy Travel is offering seven nights in June from €775 per person all inclusive, with accommodation at the Marbel Hotel by Palm Wings in Kusadasi. cassidytravel.ie
NB: All prices are based on double occupancy and are subject to availability and changes.
https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-turkey-could-holidays-help-recovery-after-the-earthquake-42388336.html Is it safe to travel to Turkey? Could post-earthquake vacation help recovery?