Turkey removes COVID-related restrictions for Indian tourists
The Hindu
Indian travellers to Turkey no longer have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative RT-PCR test result as the country expects to welcome the most Indian tourists ever this year
Turkey has relaxed all the conditions for travellers entering the country and is expecting to welcome the highest-ever number of Indian tourists this year, Turkiye Tourism Board said on Monday.
Earlier, Indian travellers were required to submit either a vaccination certificate or an RT-PCR test report to visit Turkey, according to a statement.
Now, Indian travellers no longer have to show proof of vaccination against coronavirus or proof of recovery from the disease or a negative RT-PCR test result, it added.
With both Indigo and Turkish Airlines resuming direct international flights to Turkiye, the country is expecting to welcome the highest-ever number of Indian tourists this year, it said.
Turkey's tourism, which touched almost $25 billion revenues last year recording a 103% growth since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to create a new record in 2022, it said.
The country emerged as one of the top destinations for Free Independent Travelers (FIT) and Meeting, Incentive Travel, Conferences and Events (MICE) tourists from around the world last year, having welcomed over 30 million international visitors in 2021, Turkiye Tourism Board stated.
Of these, 50,000 were Indian tourists, which was a sizable number taking the pandemic into consideration.