Safety in Turkey for tourists. You need to rest at home: vacation makes our life shorter and deprives immunity. Tour operators at a low start

On September 28, the element hit the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, namely its central part - at 18.02 local time, an earthquake began, which then provoked a tsunami. The strongest shock occurred at 18.02. The maximum seismic activity was observed about 36 miles northeast of Dungala, as reported by the US Geological Survey. Already there was information that the earthquake was strong, with a magnitude of 7.7 points.

A tsunami warning was issued soon after. It was the water element that caused the massive destruction of coastal villages, in particular the large city of Palu, on the territory of which 350,000 people live.

Unfortunately, the natural disaster did not go unnoticed. Of course, rescue operations are still underway, but the authorities have already reported that at least 384 people were victims of the elements. 29 people are currently considered missing - rescuers are actively searching. About 540 residents and guests of the island are in the hospital, where they receive the necessary medical care.

Unfortunately, at the time of the announcement of the tsunami warning, a huge crowd of people gathered on Palu Beach who wanted to participate in one of the national festivals. The Indonesian Emergency Situation Agency reports that not all holiday guests managed to evacuate from the beach in time.

As for the damage inflicted on the city itself, they are terrible - thousands of houses destroyed to the ground, flooded streets, destroyed infrastructure.

The airport is temporarily closed

There have been reports that the Mutiara Sis Al-Jufri Airport, which, by the way, is one of the largest air terminals in Indonesia, is temporarily closed.

The fact is that the earthquake damaged 500 m of the runway, leaving only 2000 m. This means that passenger planes will not be able to take off or land at the airport. Of course, the authorities are working to restore air links as quickly as possible, but repairs take time.

The remaining part of the runway is enough to receive cargo ships, which transport everything necessary to the island, including provisions, tools, medicines, building materials, etc. Rescue teams arrive in the city in the same way. Fortunately, the inhabitants of Sulawesi were not completely cut off from the world - the state provides the islanders and guests of the city with appropriate assistance.

In connection with the closure of the airport, all flights were canceled, including those that serve the route Makassa - Palu - Makassar, which allows you to get to the southern parts of the island. Unfortunately, at the moment, residents cannot leave the island using air transport. It is also not recommended to sail from Central Sulawesi, as there is a possibility of residual shocks. It is unlikely that they will cause damage to the villages on the island, but during sea travel they can be dangerous.

Indonesia is an incredibly beautiful and colorful country. But is it worth it for a tourist to go there? In fact, this decision is up to you. Yes, it is not safe in the country, because the tragedy in the city of Palu was not the only one. Last month, a series of small earthquakes hit the island of Lombok, injuring hundreds of residents. And on August 5, as a result of the activity of the elements in Indonesia, 460 people died.

Travelers are advised to be careful, and the state itself is clearly not considered the safest place to stay. If you are still going on a trip, then at first you should study all the available information and choose only those areas of Indonesia, those islands that are considered as safe as possible. Travelers who are already in the country are advised to closely monitor seismic reports, strictly follow all the recommendations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and at least try to leave the islands in time, which are more likely to suffer from earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Tatyana Solomatina

How dangerous is it to rest in Abkhazia?

Good afternoon friends! Many tourists think about spending a vacation in Abkhazia. Beautiful nature, empty beaches and close proximity to Russia, despite the poorly developed tourist infrastructure and unsettled life, make this destination tempting for a summer holiday.

But is it dangerous to rest in Abkhazia? Judging by the comments on other blog posts, readers are very interested in this issue. There are many opponents, there are supporters. But the latest tragedy in Gudauta made even fans of the Republic think about the safety of their vacation. I'll give my opinion too.

The sensational murder of our compatriot took place on July 11, 2017 in Gudauta. The brutal attack of "thugs" on two peacefully resting families from Moscow did not leave anyone indifferent. I will not describe the details of the event, for those who do not know, watch the video.

Now the intensity of indignation is very great. Everyone condemns such a cruel crime. Everyone imagines himself in the place of an unhappy family and everyone has the same reaction - horror. You don't want your enemy to be in this situation. I have the same feelings as well.

But what I fundamentally disagree with is the calls to completely ignore Abkhazia as a tourist destination.

Let's put aside the emotions and think sensibly. I do not argue that it is difficult to call Abkhazia a safe resort and it is far from sedate Europe. But tell me, why don't we hear such categorical statements after we learn about criminal cases in Thailand? After all, robberies and murders also take place there. However, the tourist flow is not decreasing, and the direction is considered one of the safest.

Why, when a banal robbery, albeit with grave consequences, occurred in Abkhazia, are many so categorical? As far as I am aware of the situation, this is the only case of killing a tourist in recent years in Abkhazia. And mind you, this is not a political assassination, not a mass execution of our compatriots, as on the beaches of Tunisia. After all, criminal "thugs" are present in any country, including Russia. You can run into robbery everywhere, this is the goal, as far as I know, that the Abkhazian criminals pursued.

I do not at all urge you to ignore this incident, but also to build it into a “cult”, summing up loud statements like “only a moron and a suicide will go on vacation to Abkhazia” or “all Abkhazians are scum”, I think it’s not worth it. It seems to me that it is impossible to castigate the whole people, to adjust the nation to one standard. Just as it is wrong because of one tragic incident to put an end to such an attractive vacation spot.

Simply, when planning a trip to Abkhazia, you need to take into account the peculiarities of rest here. It is worth visiting non-tourist places of the Republic with caution. It is clear that the probability of running into trouble there is much greater than in busy resort villages. It is just as stupid and dangerous to roam in a good drunk at night through the dark streets, bawling at the top of your voice "chanson".

I foresee indignant exclamations, of course everyone wants to feel free and relaxed on vacation. I don't mind, just not here. For those who are not ready to “look back” and limit themselves in some way, Abkhazia is definitely not suitable.

But there is a category of vacationers who do not need night adventures, they do not plan to visit the wild inaccessible places of the Republic. Many people just want warm weather and swimming in the clear sea on free beaches. So why should they refuse to travel to Abkhazia? In famous resorts, it is quite safe there, if you behave accordingly. In July, when the tragedy happened, hundreds of thousands of people were vacationing in Abkhazia. I am sure that many returned home safe, sound and satisfied.

I think that it is possible to go to Abkhazia, just turn on your head, choose more lively places, do not insult the local population, behave with dignity. Then some troubles and problems are unlikely.

What awaits single tourists?

I cannot say that it is safe to go to Abkhazia without male escort. The very first evening visit to a cafe or a walk along the sea can turn into trouble for you. And how global they will be, does not depend on you at all.

In the eyes of local men, you a priori look like a woman, to put it mildly, “seeking adventure”, and even a modest appearance, combined with the same modest behavior, will not make them think differently. No persuasion like “I just went out to get some air or eat” will not work on them.

I foresee the thoughts of some girls from the series "how many such suitors were on the coast of Sochi, Turkey, Egypt, etc., I'll get rid of them." Not the case, now I will explain why.

Most of the Abkhazian "machos" in life are nothing of themselves. However, literally everyone considers themselves "tough men". The firm conviction of youth that everyone around them owes them, allows them to be sincerely surprised at your unfavorability.

At first, they will perceive your refusal as a kind of female game. Then, realizing the opposite, your firmness will be perceived as an insult and they will move on to active actions. At best, everything will end in insults. After that, you will definitely lose the desire to leave the house in the evenings. I will not write about the worst option, I will only say that it will be difficult for you to find protection in Abkhazia. Believe me, these are not empty words.

So imagine what kind of vacation awaits you. Well, during the day you walk, visit the beach or sightseeing, it's safe. What to do in the evening? It gets dark early there, if we talk about budget housing, then watching TV will not save either, there will simply be no TV in the room. Believe me, in three days you will want to howl at the moon from boredom and loneliness.

Of course there is a chance to meet other tourists and spend time with them. But Abkhazia is not Sochi, there are half-empty beaches, many tourists vacation with families with children, they have somewhat different concerns and schedules. Some come in large companies, they have their own world and their own interests.

By the way, what I wrote also applies to women who are going on vacation with children. Of course, a happy single mother with numerous offspring is unlikely to attract the attention of Abkhazians, but a common category - a young mother with one child, is also dangerous to walk in the evenings.

Real example. The room next to ours was rented by a 32-year-old woman with an 11-year-old daughter. She said that the very first evening beat off the desire to go to dinner in a cafe. After the proposal “to show the beauties of Abkhazia tomorrow”, a “sticky” courtship followed. And the feeling of fear that she experienced, returning home through the dark streets after an unpleasant incident in a cafe, made her cook dinner in the master's kitchen all the rest and forget about evening walks. The settlement of our company was a gift for her.

Nevertheless, I want to tell you that alone in Abkhazia, in the absence of other options, I would still go. I would simply refuse to live in the private sector or small hotels. I would buy a ticket to one of the sanatoriums or boarding houses of the coast, the main condition for choosing a place would be the presence of its own territory and a beach.

In such institutions, three meals a day is always included in the price, so you can visit local cafes occasionally, if you wish, if you have a company. And in the sanatorium there are more chances to find new acquaintances. Again, the issue of security there is not acute, there are places where the territory is guarded, so you can safely walk in the evenings. Look for ready-made offers through the Onlinetours search engine.

It is also better to go on excursions as part of organized groups. It is not necessary for single girls to independently negotiate with local drivers about visiting attractions. Of course, in most cases, you will be delivered back safe and sound. But there is still a risk of financial fraud or the possibility of running into inadequate support.

Poisoning: what are the consequences?

It's time to mention another danger that awaits you on vacation in Abkhazia. Everyone must have heard about the mysterious ailment that haunts many tourists on the third day after arrival. The word "mysterious" is the best suited to this phenomenon, because this disease comes from nowhere and goes nowhere, forcing everyone to wonder about the reasons for its occurrence.

I did not see an exact definition of the causes of this ailment in any serious medical source. Everywhere there are only assumptions that, in general, are not very diverse: eating poor-quality food, sea water that you accidentally swallowed while swimming, features of local drinking water, poorly washed hands or fruits. Accordingly, we are talking about banal poisoning and microbes.

One thing pleases, unpleasant sensations pass quickly, they do not leave any bad health consequences. Just one day of vacation will have to be crossed out. Of course, there is nothing good in this, but you should not refuse a trip to Abkhazia, guided only by this. Firstly, there is a chance that you will not have this problem, and secondly, the disease is not so difficult to tolerate as to consider it a serious danger. In any case, I think so, although some tourists will most likely disagree with me.

Rest by car: traffic police and broken glass

Recently, there are often reviews about the "lawlessness" of local inspectors on the roads of Abkhazia. The situation seems to have changed drastically compared to last year.

We drove around the Republic by car for almost two weeks. I note, it was riding! That is, they did not lie on the beach all day, putting the car in the parking lot. We traveled all along the coast and across. Road inspectors were rarely seen.

They stopped us only once, and that was on business. I remember the surprised eyes of the traffic cop and the phrase from the series: “Of course I understand that you are in a hurry, but to violate it like that, seeing that I am standing here, is already impudence.” It was when we had just left the checkpoint at the exit of the National Park. The speed there is 30 km / h, after 200 meters the husband decided that he simply missed the sign removing the restrictions, and managed to accelerate to 60 km / h, then the traffic cop showed up. It all ended quite simply and quickly. Realizing that they themselves were to blame and the inspector was right in everything, they did not argue, they thrust him 1000 rubles, took it right away, smiled and wished him a happy journey.

We tried to drive everywhere according to the rules, if we exceeded the speed limit, then by a maximum of 20 km / h. When they nevertheless met traffic police cars on the road, they observed that they only stop cars with Abkhaz license plates, they try not to touch tourists once again, unless, of course, there are obvious violations of the rules.

When I shared this observation with the owner of our accommodation (a man about 35 years old), he said that it is more profitable for traffic cops to stop the locals, and for tourists there is an unspoken order from the authorities not to wool. I don’t know how true this is, but what we encountered on the roads in Abkhazia, I wrote to you. What we saw matched the man's words.

So for me, some of today's reviews are a little surprising. Either something has changed in the policy of loyalty to tourists in Abkhazia over the winter, or people write who are not used to following the rules of traffic rules. Both options can take place, so I ask those who disagree not to shower me with angry remarks in the comments, it’s better to write how you see the situation. And readers will draw their own conclusions.

About the same I would like to say about broken glass in cars. Such a problem probably exists, although we have not seen a single precedent in all the time. The question arises: why break glass? If their goal is theft, then maybe you should play it safe, remove everything valuable and “brilliant”? Maybe this did not happen to us, because we did just that? And should you do the same? Well, I do not believe in the political motives of such actions. I did not notice any hatred towards us among the Abkhazians. Envy - yes, and not everyone has it, but hatred - no.

My opinion

Is it dangerous to rest in Abkhazia? As sad as it is, I must admit that holidays in the Republic cannot be called safe. But I would not say categorically that it is not worth going to Abkhazia. You can spend your holidays here without any problems. There are many tourists who had a great rest in 2017, do not regret anything and will definitely return here.

Many will probably think, why such an extreme? Wouldn't it be better to go to Sochi or another city on our coast, if there is no way to go abroad?

The nature of Abkhazia is very beautiful, it is wild, not yet spoiled by civilization. The beaches are huge and empty. I have nothing against the resorts of Sochi or Gelendzhik, but during the season it is simply impossible to find secluded places there. And for me, it's better to drive another 100 km to Abkhazia than to push on the densely populated beaches of the Russian coast.

So I reasoned before I learned about the tragedy in Gudauta. No, my opinion hasn't changed drastically yet. But with all the love for Abkhazia, this incident even made me think about the appropriateness of such a holiday. What can we say about the old opponents of this Republic.

The only thing I can say now to those who are serious about spending their holidays in Abkhazia is to read the information, listen to advice, assess the situation, choose accommodation in lively resorts. These simple precautions will definitely come in handy today.

In order for you to have a complete picture of Abkhazia, I recommend reading other blog articles in this area:

Take a look at the Reader's Journey section. How to post a review there, read.
Leave comments, share the article on social networks, subscribe to blog updates, active readers are always welcome.

With that, I say goodbye, until we meet again!
Tatyana Solomatina

Geopolitical situation

Egyptian authorities have repeatedly assured that there is no danger to foreign tourists in the country. Considering that the lion's share of vacationers go to resort areas or, where hotels are located in a separate area, carefully guarded and with restrictions on visiting it, it can be assumed that an armed bandit is unlikely to be found there.
This opinion is supported by numerous messages on various forums left by Russians permanently residing in Egypt, or visiting there for work. All of them unanimously argue that there is no safer place than Egypt.

However, one should not forget that the main factor in the ban on the flow of tourists between our countries was insufficient measures and security control at the country's air terminals, through which Russian tourists arrived on vacation.
The main questions concerned the airports of Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada.

The first of them, the capital airport of Cairo, received mainly regular flights, while the other two had numerous charter flights from various Russian cities.
The work that was carried out to develop and implement security measures in the area and inside the airports was repeatedly inspected by representatives of the Russian side. And if our experts had questions about Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, then the second terminal of the Cairo airport, completely renovated, modernized and equipped with the latest technology, was assessed as ready for the resumption of flights.

Taking into account these negotiations of December 15, 2017, it is important to understand that only regular flights on the Moscow-Cairo route will be organized. Further travel to the place of rest will have to be organized independently. For example, use domestic flights that arrive at those airports that have not been assessed by our side as completely safe and ready for the resumption of flights from Russia.

All these facts should be compared to those who are planning to go on vacation to Egypt in 2019.

But, digressing from the geopolitical situation and assuming that Egypt was chosen as a tourist route, we will discuss the basic safety rules that should be observed when relaxing in the country of the sphinx and pyramids.

Safety during excursions

Important. It is not recommended to go on an acquaintance with the historical heritage of Egypt alone. An individual trip on Egyptian roads can be dangerous, and some routes are generally closed to individual vehicles.

When choosing and ordering excursions, you should not save money and order a cultural program from local residents. It is preferable to choose Russian tour operators for these purposes, providing certain attributes and security guarantees.

Sanitary situation and medical care in the country

The most important requirement in this matter concerns the water that the tourist drinks and swims in.

Only bottled water should be used as drinking water. Tap water is not suitable for this purpose.

It is worth swimming in Egypt exclusively in sea water, especially since the Mediterranean and Red Seas are the best suited for this. You should refrain from swimming in river water. The Nile is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. The desire to plunge into it can result in various skin and other diseases.

Before traveling to Egypt, be sure to take out insurance and carefully study all its points.
It should be noted that Egyptian medicine is not distinguished by quality and technology. But the presence of insurance will at least protect the tourist from unnecessary, not always honest, waste on treatment and medicines.

It is advisable to consult your doctor before the trip about the need for any vaccination in anticipation of the trip.

Sun, sand and dehydration

The hot climate of Egypt with high solar activity often leads to sunburn and dehydration.

To prevent the lack of water in the body, you need to observe the drinking regimen, always have a supply of drinking water with you.

Properly selected clothes with long sleeves and a closed collar will protect the body from sunburn. Sunscreen must be applied to exposed areas of the body, remembering to renew it periodically.

When traveling through deserts, it must be remembered that protection of the face and especially the eyes from desert winds is mandatory. For this, special goggles and arafat scarves are suitable.

Red Sea: beautiful and dangerous

The underwater world of the Red Sea attracts snorkelers and divers with its diversity and riot of colors. But do not forget that behind the external brightness and exoticism of hedgehogs, moray eels, stingrays, sea snakes and fish, a great danger can also lurk.

There are two rules that will help protect yourself from marine life:

obligatory wearing of special rubber slippers even in the case of a simple walk along the water's edge,
when swimming, snorkeling or diving, you cannot touch hedgehogs, jellyfish and other inhabitants of the Red Sea.

Compliance with these simple rules will make your holiday in Egypt safe.

However, returning to the general geopolitical situation, I would like to note that after the direction of the trip is chosen, it is recommended to contact the Russian Foreign Ministry and clarify about security in the chosen holiday area. If there is evidence of an unstable situation in the planned place of rest, you should refrain from traveling. Moreover, in such a situation, tour operators, as a rule, go towards the tourist and are ready to postpone the dates of the trip or its direction.

On April 11 (for the first time since the 2015 terrorist attack), flights between Moscow and Cairo are resumed. The AiF columnist visited Sharm el-Sheikh to find out how safe the local resorts are for Russian citizens now.

- Your documents!

- Please.

A soldier in a bulletproof vest at the checkpoint near the village of Taba checks the photo in the passport with my face for a long time, then leaves and calls somewhere. Nearby, in the 30-degree heat, a machine gunner in a black uniform is languishing: his booth is reinforced with armor sheets on all sides to repel a sudden attack. My taxi driver explains: most often, a suicide bomber flies at breakneck speed, trying to crash into the thick of the military. A sniper will not help here, but a machine gun - very much so. The front is located a few tens of kilometers, closer to the north of Sinai: the day before, Egyptian aircraft bombed the positions of radical Islamists, who have not been able to smoke out of underground labyrinths for five years. On the way to Sharm el-Sheikh (250 km) I met a lot of checkpoints with armored cars and barbed wire - on the twelfth I stopped counting. Our car was reluctantly checked only at two checkpoints: the rest nod sleepily, wave their hand - have a good trip. “Did you notice that we traveled so much, but did not see a single village? - asks taxi driver Mohammed.- All local Bedouins left to fight for the "Islamic State" (IS - an organization banned in the Russian Federation). The Russian tourists are gone, that’s the trouble… I took 50 dollars from you for this road, but I used to take you for 300.” That's right - vacationers from Russia have not flown to Egypt since October 31, 2015: on this day, ISIS terrorists planted a bomb on the route from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg, and killed 224 people.

"When will the Russians arrive?"

The front-line situation changes at the entrance to Sharm el-Sheikh. Everything is fine here - palm trees, camels and the sea, but the hotels have more armed guards. Mohammed greets the employee, who opens the gates of the hotel. “We are relatives,” the driver explains. “My sister is married to his uncle.” That is, if there were explosives in the taxi, it would calmly drive to the doors of the complex where hundreds of tourists live - easily, by acquaintance. In many things in Egypt, it is still customary to rely on chance, and no terrorist attacks will change this lifestyle. Charters from the Russian Federation have not been flying here for 2.5 years, but the local sea "health resorts" are not deserted, as in the very first time after the ban on air traffic. At the large Sunrise hotel, I was told that they had 60% of the rooms filled, although in some hotels things are not so rosy - 85% of the rooms are free, despite huge discounts. Who eventually replaced us in Egypt?

- Now 300 Ukrainians live here, 200 residents of various Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Palestine,- speaks hotel manager Karam Motavi. - But, believe me, we are really looking forward to Russian holidaymakers. Everyone in Sharm el-Sheikh will tell you this - both merchants and businessmen miss the guests from Russia.

Arab tourists could not completely replace Russian ones. Photo: / George Zotov

Everyone in Egypt asked me when the Russians would arrive - from a checkpoint employee on the border with Israel to soldiers at checkpoints and airport employees. "Are you from Russia? Indeed? - the Egyptian is surprised, offering a trip to the desert at double the price. - Are you finally coming back? I'm happy. Oh Allah, how we have been waiting for you!” To be honest, Egypt does not dream specifically about us, but about our money: it is vacationers from the Russian Federation who are considered the most generous, bargain less for souvenirs and leave hotel employees the best tips. The hotel management of Sharm el-Sheikh does not hide the fact that as soon as Russian tourists return, prices will definitely rise. “We will lose the Arab guests, but this is not a catastrophe - Russia is more important for us,” the owner of the resort complex confesses over a hookah. - Besides, stop playing with fire already - among the visiting holiday-goers from countries like Sudan, Iraq or Libya, there may be mishandled terrorists. Yes, the things of the guests are examined at the entrance to any hotel, but you understand: anything can happen. Russians are much safer than Arabs in this sense.”

Resting in black

There have been terrorist attacks in Sharm el-Sheikh before - in 2005, 88 people were killed and 150 were injured in suicide bombings. Now militants in the Sinai Peninsula are seizing settlements, killing dozens of soldiers, and last November, when terrorists attacked the city of Bir el-Abd, 300 civilians became their victims. On the beach, you don't want to believe in war. Not far away - a stone's throw - massacre, blood, bombardments. And here sunbathing girls in bikinis, music, ice cream, swimmers in masks looking at beautiful fish among the waters of an incredibly azure sea. Can this happen in the same country? Yes, in Egypt a similar situation is a reality.

Arab tourists in hotels behave, as a rule, the same way. Men don't even go to the sea - they stick to the all-inclusive bars, absorbing an incredible amount of alcohol (alcohol is prohibited in their countries), dancing in the pool and singing songs. Women in black robes with their faces completely covered with a veil sit all day on the beach (without swimming) and look after the children. European tourists look at them with undisguised surprise - before there were no representatives of the Arab states in hotels, and now it looks like a collision of two worlds. Egyptian citizens (as well as Palestinians and guests from Sudan) are offered rooms 3 times cheaper than Europeans. They explain: with the disappearance of 4 million Russian tourists from Dahab, Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, the hotel industry could not have survived otherwise.

Are they not searched?

At the resort airport, security has become noticeably better. If immediately after the explosion of the Kogalymavia airliner in November 2015, I calmly entered the departure area without even showing my passport (!), Now it is absolutely impossible. At the entrance, the checkpoint tests the taxi for the presence of explosives, at the entrance they look at printouts of electronic tickets - without them they are not allowed into the airport. Checks have become better: three cordons with translucent beams and metal detectors, individual people (causing suspicion) are stopped and hand luggage is sorted out in detail. There is no more chaos and chaos. It is commendable, except that it was not a passenger who carried the bomb on board the Russian plane, but some bastard from the airport staff. The airliner itself is now carefully inspected by special services before departure, checking chairs and toilets for foreign objects. It's a shame they haven't done anything like this before.

I fully understand the desire of our people to have a cheap vacation and fly for a modest price to the sea at least once a year. Moreover, we, both in Sochi and Crimea, have not been able to provide visitors with good service and low prices for so many years. Let everyone decide for himself whether to risk and go to Egypt or not. Just keep in mind: in this country, not too far from the resort areas, a full-scale war is being waged. The militants declared foreign tourists the object of their hunt and killed them repeatedly. This problem hasn't gone away. Lying down to sunbathe on a beach surrounded by checkpoints, tanks and p-guns, you should know - alas, there are many people here who want to kill you.

The Egyptian authorities are obliged to guarantee security for the citizens of the Russian Federation: especially after the horrific terrorist attack that claimed the lives of hundreds of St. Petersburg residents. However, for now, we will go to Egypt as before at our own peril and risk.

Türkiye has been and remains one of the favorite resorts of Russians. Geographical proximity, affordable prices and plenty of opportunities for a wide variety of recreation have contributed to the fact that in a few years the country has come out on top in the list of tourists' preferences.

Hospitable Türkiye

The cancellation of charter flights and the ban on group tours was a real tragedy for many, and everyone was happy to restore relations. However, even now people are apprehensive about relaxing on Turkish beaches. Everyone cares about what level it is currently at.

The main reason for distrust of this southern country is well known - the protracted Syrian conflict. The state borders on, in which hostilities are taking place, and the likelihood of infiltration of militants is very high.

However, the danger is not limited to external factors only. Inside Turkey itself, too, not everything is calm, it is worth remembering the terrorist attacks in Ankara and Istanbul. Did not contribute to the growth of the country's popularity and last year's coup attempt. True, the authorities under the leadership of R. Erdogan were able to keep the situation under control and suppressed the rebellion. In addition, the initiator of the coup was not the people, but a group of military men. So there is no talk of a civil war in Turkey.

One of the internal Turkish threats for many years has been the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which many have probably heard about. However, despite the sharply negative attitude towards it within the country, representatives of this organization do not allow reprisals against foreign tourists.

Security Measures in Turkey

A country whose leadership has always taken serious measures to protect both its citizens and foreign guests. By the way, in Western countries, trips to Turkey are now not considered dangerous. Foreign diplomatic departments only advise their citizens to refrain from visiting places on the border with Syria.

The situation on the streets of cities is generally calm, no nervousness is felt. True, there were quite a few policemen who were not easy to meet before. As Antalya Governor Münir Karaloglu explained, the security measures taken by the Turkish side are as follows:

The number of mobile posts of local police has increased significantly. Even if it is imperceptible from the side, each car is carefully inspected. The driver's documents are checked, the interior is visually inspected, and the contents of the trunk are also examined.
In places where tourists spend their holidays, the number of policemen increased by 10,000 people. The advantage is that many of them patrol in civilian clothes. This allows not to disturb vacationers and not to attract the attention of those who may violate public order.
The work of special services has been transferred to an enhanced mode, mechanisms for transmitting information and instantly responding to various threats have been improved.

Regular buses have been ordered to take under special control. This mainly applies to those that come from areas bordering Syria.
As for the popular resorts, the corresponding instructions are given to the hotel staff. They have been instructed to increase their vigilance and control all attempts by unauthorized persons who are trying to enter the territory of the hotel.

According to the Turkish authorities, the favorable geographical position and natural landscape help them to protect the country. From restless neighbors, the state is securely closed by the sea and mountains. It is almost impossible to enter Turkish territory illegally, all entries and exits are strictly controlled by the police.

Airport security measures

One of the main tasks of the Turkish authorities is to ensure the safe rest of Russian, German, Scandinavian and other foreign tourists. Therefore, unprecedented measures have been taken at Antalya Airport. First of all, this concerns the entrance to the territory of the international airport.

If earlier entry was carried out in two lanes and vehicles were checked selectively, now there are five lanes for entry, but all cars are checked to a single one.

Each driver of the car is asked for the purpose of arrival, tickets and personal documents are checked. In addition, they inspect the trunk and interior of the vehicle.

No less attention is paid to security in the building. At the entrance, at least 85% of passengers pass personal control. There has been a significant increase in the number of security personnel, most of whom are armed. Now their number is 1,600 security workers and 350 police officers. The measures taken were highly appreciated by the International Civil Aviation Commission, and now the Antalya airport is recognized as sufficiently reliable and safe.

Is it safe everywhere in Turkey?

In general, Türkiye is a rather calm and safe state. Every country in the world has its own threats, even, for example, life in New York causes very different reviews. The same can be said about Russia, which was subjected to terrorist attacks. The situation in the world has long been tense. As a result, a wave of unrest swept through the most prosperous cities in the world, and those places that do not represent much trust can become completely safe for Russians.

In the popular Turkish resorts, rest was calm as before, and now it remains so.

Antalya, Marmaris, Bodrum and small resort places are full of tourists and are well guarded.

The Russians have never particularly aspired to the cities that border Syria: where there is no sea and “all inclusive”, there is nothing for a normal Russian tourist to do.

Panoramic view of Istanbul and the Bosphorus

The business and political center of the country, Ankara, has also never been on the list of tourist preferences of our travelers. But beautiful now poses a certain danger. Everyone remembers the terrorist attacks that took place there, and now the risk has not diminished in the least.

In addition, in Ankara, terrorist attacks took place in places where the risk of tourists was minimal. But in Istanbul, the blows fell on places where the number of foreigners is especially large: the Kemal Ataturk Airport, the Sultanahmet district and the busy tourist street Istiklal. In terms of scale, the Istanbul airport attack was one of the largest in international history.

Holidays in Turkey in 2019: what tourists need to know

Since there is still a certain risk, every tourist should follow some rules. This applies to both clients of travel agencies and independent travelers. First of all, when preparing for a trip, it is worth writing down all the contacts that you may need in an emergency. This is the address and telephone number of the Consulate of the Russian Federation, the telephone numbers of the local police, the insurance company, the contacts of the tour operator.

This is how health insurance in the Schengen countries looks like

Those who travel on their own should not be neglected. 1-2 dollars a day for a medical policy is not such a huge amount. But insurance will help a lot in case of a sudden illness or accident, which often occur even on vacation.

When choosing an insurance company, you also need to be vigilant. Many of them really do not like to immediately provide assistance, offering to pay for the services of doctors on their own, and upon their return to present checks. As practice shows, sometimes such unfortunate insurers refuse to pay out even for injuries at ski resorts, finding fault with some “letter”.

During the trip, it is necessary to constantly keep in touch with relatives or friends who have remained in Russia. It is much better if they know about your movements and plans for the next day.

Another tip is to carry ID with you. If earlier in Turkish resorts no one ever asked them, now they can ask. It is best to make a certified photocopy in Russia and carry it with you, and keep the original documents in the hotel safe.

Finally, there are recommendations that relate to visiting public places. It is worth taking a closer look at the visitors, and if you find something suspicious, contact the guards or the police. Airports are also not worth being unnecessarily. If you have to meet someone, it is better to clarify the specific time and place of the meeting by SMS.

Increasing security in Turkey

It must be remembered that criminal personalities often look completely harmless. So you should trust your intuition, and it's best to just be less in crowded places. Do not carry large sums with you. Bank cards are accepted almost everywhere in Turkey, but it is better to have a bank phone with you for emergency blocking. It is also always necessary to have at least a small amount of cash.

These recommendations are best followed even by people who have been to Turkey many times. Unfortunately, the level of security in many countries of the world leaves much to be desired. In order not to get into an unpleasant situation, it is better to protect yourself as much as possible.