One of the global leaders of Safe Tourism, Türkiye is ready for 2021 summer season with heightened safety measures. Launched by Türkiye in June 2020, Safe Tourism Certificate certifying compliance with global safety standards for anything a tourist may contact, including airports, accommodation facilities, restaurants, cafés, culture, art and congress facilities, marine tourism facilities and vehicles, theme parks, ski lift facilities have been awarded to more than 9,800 businesses as it enters its second year. Starting in 2021, Türkiye made this certificate compulsory for all accommodation facilities with a bed capacity of 30 and above. Türkiye has also given priority to tourism personnel within the scope of the national vaccination program and is ready for 2021 summer with high safety standards.

Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, talked about the preparations for the 2021 summer season in an event attended by the ambassadors of foreign missions to Türkiye from May 21 to 23. “Türkiye was one of the first countries to launch a Safe Tourism Certification Program in June 2020,” said Mr. Ersoy.” In 2020, we welcomed 16 million guests in our country. Tourism safety has been our top priority over the last year with a certification program that has become one of the best practices worldwide. With the safe, effective and disciplined practices and measures that we have carried out, our certification program has become one of the most successful implementations in the world and we have had a successful season. First, we made certification compulsory for accommodation facilities with 30 beds and above, and then increased the frequency of inspections to ensure that the certified businesses maintain their certification. In our national vaccination program, more than 27 million doses of vaccine have been applied to Turkish citizens to date. The vaccination program, in which we prioritize tourism workers, will continue to accelerate in June.

“2021 will be a year of safety in tourism season” said Minister Ersoy, “Türkiye was a leading country in safe tourism last year. 2021 will be a year of heightened safety. We are ready for the 2021 summer season for more than 10,000 certified tourism facilities across Türkiye.”

Ambassadors experienced the measures on-site

Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) hosted the ambassadors in the Safe Tourism event held in Antalya. Turkish

Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, stated in his speech at the event that the ministry aims to ensure that all safe tourism measures are experienced directly by the representatives of foreign missions to Türkiye.

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