Turkey to ditch tourist visas for Brits
Travel agents are expecting a jump in bookings to Turkey after the country’s government announced British holidaymakers will no longer need visas.
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara has decided to exempt visa requirements for the UK, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland from March 2.
It means these visitors will no longer have to apply online for a tourist visa, which costs $35 (around £27) per person, including children.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said the move is fantastic news for British holidaymakers.
"Turkey is one of our most popular destinations, and this news makes it much easier for hard-working British families to enjoy a well-deserved holiday to this beautiful country," he said.
Patrick Ikhena, head of travel at comparethemarket.com, said: "In an age of low-cost flights to Europe, this move could entice a new crop of British tourists to visit Turkey."
But he warned holidaymakers to be careful when buying insurance for Turkey holidays.
"Although Turkey is not an EU member state, when buying travel insurance, it is important to know that some insurers include Turkey as eligible for European travel cover, whilst others require tourists to purchase a Worldwide policy to be covered. Therefore, it is crucial that Brits considering travelling to Turkey check that their policy covers the country before they depart."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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