The Foreign Office has issued an urgent notice to all those who travel to Turkey. The Foreign Office has warned British tourists to Turkey of an “increased risk of terrorism” in the city of Sirnak, Hakkari province and anywhere along the Turkey-Syria border.
It has issued advice against “all but essential travel” in specific areas in the country. A spokesman added: “The FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the border with Syria due to fighting and an increased risk of terrorism.”
The guide says: “Most terrorist attacks have happened in the southeast of Turkey, Ankara and Istanbul. You should be aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.”
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The guide added: “Extremist groups based in Syria, including Daesh and groups linked to Al-Qaeda, have the ability to carry out attacks in neighboring countries, including Turkey. Daesh has previously targeted border crossings and the neighboring places on the Syrian side of the border.”
British citizens traveling to Turkey for tourism purposes can travel visa-free for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least 150 days (5 months) from the date of arrival and must have a complete blank page for entry and exit stamps.
The FCDO lists southeast Turkey, Ankara and Istanbul as the places most at risk. Turkey is one of the UK’s favorite holiday destinations, attracting more than 3.8 million British tourists in 2023. The FCDO advises: “Events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories have led to heightened tensions in the region and the demonstrations are going on in places all over Turkey.
“Large demonstrations have been reported outside diplomatic missions connected to the conflict in major cities, particularly the Israeli diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul.” Flights are still operating in Turkey, but some airlines have adjusted their flight routes to avoid flying over Iran and Israel due to recent tensions.
This means that some flights may take longer than usual.
