Will Turkey open to Russians after July 1, 2021?

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

At the beginning of summer, the media reported on the opening of resorts for Russian tourists. Somewhat later, the dates were moved to the second month of summer. Now the subject of hot discussions is the question of whether Turkey will be opened for Russians after July 1, 2021. The latest news, in contrast to the previous optimistic publications, began to express reasonable doubts.

Official sources

So far, none of the parties has an exact answer to the question of whether Turkey will be opened for Russians after July 1, 2021: the latest news is published only by statistics, which says that almost 340 thousand passengers have purchased airliner tickets for flights to Turkish territory. This is statistical data, but it is not clear what the assertion that millions of Russians are waiting for trips to Turkey is based on. F. Koca, head of the Turkish department, reacted with understanding to the closure of the air border between the countries, and this is not surprising:

• despite the colossal losses suffered by the tourism industry, the situation in the country with the coronavirus is still far from perfect;
• there were reports that the epidemiological situation is worse than official statistics: the Turkish government even accused some media of distorting data, underestimating the number of cases;
• the arrival of an official delegation led by high-ranking officials and the discussion of security measures for tourists and vacationers did not lead Moscow to a decision to open its borders;
• the discovery in Turkey of a British strain with increased contagiousness only strengthened the decision to renew.

It is possible that the aggravation of the situation with the coronavirus was caused by tourists who wanted so much to rest that they got to Turkish beaches through Belarus, without waiting for official flights between the countries to open.

Russia said the opening would take place only after a special commission assessed the epidemiological situation in Turkey. The urgent lockdown and the cheerful information that the situation had stabilized did not convince the Russian government.

At the end of May, a meeting was held to prevent an aggravation of the situation in the Russian capital and some regions. It was initiated by Deputy Prime Minister T. Golikova. The decision taken on the last day of spring, at first glance, answered the question of whether Turkey will be opened for Russians after July 1, 2021. The latest news reported that Turkey and Tanzania are excluded from possible tourism options until June 21.

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Further perspectives

It is noteworthy that communication with Great Britain was resumed already from June 2, not on the same scale as before, but on a regular basis, three times a week. Proponents of global conspiracy theories have begun to speculate that there are political considerations in the Turkish flight ban, but such opinions are absurd. The whole problem is in the third wave of coronavirus, which domestic and foreign scientists spoke about in April-May.

To guess whether Turkey will be opened for Russians after July 1, 2021, the latest news is offered on the basis of facts that allow us to draw some conclusions:

• RIA Novosti does not give any answer, but reminds that the restrictions have been extended until June 21, and it is too early to talk about extending or lifting the ban.
• M. Doguzova, the head of the Federal Tourism Agency, admitted the likelihood of the resumption of regular flights between the countries in the middle of the summer. No exact date has been given, but July is mentioned as an indicative date.
• The representative of the Turkish Association of Tour Operators is more optimistic and assumes that the long-awaited event will happen immediately after the end of the extension - on June 22.
• Izvestia published an interview with Yuri Barzykin, vice-president of the PCT, who told reporters that preparatory measures in this direction have already been taken. Russian commissions traveled for inspection purposes, hotels for reception were prepared and received all the necessary certificates.

Despite all these optimistic assurances, sane people talk about the worsening of the situation in the world. For example, the mayor of Bodrum said that there is uncertainty in the epidemiological situation, but assured that it will be stabilized by the designated date. This confidence is motivated by the development of a vaccine that is underway in Turkey.

Until recently, the Turkish authorities said that the place of numerous Russian tourists was taken by the Chinese and the Ukrainians. But for the second consecutive summer, Turkish hotels are empty and the tourism industry is crashing. Therefore, it is not surprising that there is regular discussion of a burning topic, assurances of certification, observance of a safe distance and information about the readiness to receive Russians. Meanwhile, the Russian authorities are steadfastly silent and no one can say with certainty whether the Russian sky will be open for aircraft from Turkey.

Outcomes

So far, an extended ban is in effect until June 21, confirmed by a meeting of the anti-coronavirus headquarters. Representatives of the tourism industry of both countries assure the imminent opening of flights. In government circles, no exact dates have been announced for lifting the ban. Russian commissions have already checked the state of the hotels. Despite the opening of many directions, there is still no exact answer about Turkey.