Tourists must pass the PCR test no later than 72 hours before departure
From June 22, Russia resumes flights with Turkey, which was terminated in the spring due to another outbreak of coronavirus. This news made the fellow citizens yearning for an all inclusive vacation happy and the tour operators counting losses, although it came as a surprise: the opening of the “Turkish coast” had been expected since July. However, the decision to let Russians go to Turkish resorts may have a political motive: on the eve of the elections to the State Duma, rested and mature voters are needed. In addition, due to restrictions on outbound tourism in the Russian south, a collapse is taking place: vouchers cost fabulous sums, and there is nowhere for an apple to fall on the beaches. We found out from tour operators on what conditions you can relax in Turkey.
The decision to close Turkey in April – before the start of the summer season – was a real blow to tour operators and tourists, many of whom have already bought tickets to the warm country. According to the Russian Union of Travel Industry, about 1.5 million people could not fly to Turkey due to the new restriction, and the liabilities of the tourist business for “frozen” vouchers exceed 70 billion rubles.
The Russians reacted with jubilation to the resumption of flights to Turkey. Under the post of one of the tour operators about the opening of the direction in the social network, the following comment: “Glad – that’s not the right word !!!!! This news is like a breath of fresh air !!! It’s just some kind of holiday !!! “
What about the prices? Turkey has always been the most budget-friendly destination offering the coveted all-inclusive format. Prices on the site-aggregator with vouchers start from 37 thousand rubles for “all inclusive” for two in a three-star hotel in Alanya. The cost of a week in a five-star hotel in the same region is not much higher – from 47 thousand rubles.
In the age of digitalization, vouchers can be bought online, but still we call for “face-to-face” advice to a travel agency specializing in Turkey. From the very first seconds of the conversation, another phone rings at the travel agency employee, she asks the caller to “hang on the line”:
– Sorry, the phones are broken, there are a lot of calls about Turkey.
– Are there queues in the offices?
– And there are queues, and our site is overloaded …
I ask the employee to see how much a ticket for two will cost at the beginning of July to the “five stars” of Kemer or Side – these resorts are considered “average” in terms of the comfort of rest in Turkey: they are more expensive than the densely populated Antalya or Alanya, but cheaper than the resorts of the Aegean coast – Bodrum and Marmaris … Tour operator’s answer: from 67 thousand rubles.
However, buying a ticket is half the battle. Coronavirus restrictions and regulations remain for entering Turkey. Tourists must pass the PCR test no later than 72 hours before departure. In addition, tourists flying to the country must register on the website of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey. After completing the questionnaire, a personal QR code will be generated, which the tourist must present at the airport and upon check-in at the hotel. The form must be completed in English.
– Do you help in filling out the questionnaire in English? – I ask the travel agency employee.
– No, we are sending a link, the questionnaire is elementary.
One way or another, but you need to fill in: name, surname, passport number, e-mail address, phone number, nationality, flight details, address of temporary residence in Turkey, countries that the tourist visited within 10 days before arriving in Turkey.
A negative PCR test is not required in two cases. The first is if tourists are fully vaccinated against coronavirus and have a certificate with them: it must also be in English and with a QR code. All vaccines approved by the World Health Organization are recognized, including two Russian ones – Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona. Vaccination must be completed no later than 14 days prior to travel to Turkey. Second, you need a certificate with the results of an express test for antibodies to coronavirus, which was carried out no earlier than 48 hours before arrival in the country.
After returning from Turkey to Russia, travelers will again have to take PCR, and twice. The results will need to be uploaded through Gosuslugi. The first test is taken within 3 days from the date of arrival, the second – not earlier than 24 hours after the first one. Until the second result is obtained, self-isolation is required.
Taking into account the need to take three PCR tests, the amount of the voucher can increase significantly. In paid clinics, the analysis costs about 2 thousand rubles apiece, and in city polyclinics – try to sign up.
According to the forecasts of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, in 2021, 7 million Russians will have a rest in Turkey, even despite the restrictions. The opening of this direction is vital for unloading Russian resorts, says Mark Goikhman, chief analyst at TeleTrade. “Excessive crowding in our south contributes to the spread of the third wave. In addition, skyrocketing prices for vacations in Russia are spurring general inflation, which is already at a record level in four years, ”he says. There is one more plus for the authorities in the opening of Turkey, the expert is sure: “A voter who had a good rest on the” all inclusive “is more loyal to the one who fought for a sunbed in Anapa or spent a vacation in a country house and garden beds.”
Newspaper headline:
Erdogan rushes to the rescue
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