Turkey, the new safe harbor for UK’s ‘red list’

By. Justin Mays

Recently, the United Kingdom removed 8 countries from its COVID-19 highest risk category. These countries are Turkey, Pakistan, Maldives, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Oman, and Bangladesh. UK’s Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps indicated that this was due to the vaccination efforts that are being made globally in order to fight this pandemic. 

That being said, there are 54 countries that are still on UKs red list. 

Travelers from the red-listed countries are still required to undergo quarantine for, at least, 10 days. Considering the expenses that come with staying in UK hotels, most of these travelers are now opting to quarantine in a cheaper country before heading to the UK. 

This 10 day stay in the hotel cost £2,285 on average, according to The Independent UK. For a couple to quarantine, they need approximately £3,715 – this is three times more when compared to the accommodation in Turkey which is only £676.

Besides cheaper accommodation, another reason why travelers are opting for Turkey is because of its well-connected airports – which are considered to be one of the best in the world.  

Turkish Airways directly flies to 126 countries with scheduled services in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Europe. Germany, France, and the Netherlands also have commendable connecting flights, but they are more pricey.

 Year in year out Turkey welcomes 35 million visitors – and most of these people are tourists who visit the country to enjoy viewing magnificent historical sites, yachting, rock climbing, white water rafting, and skiing. 

To make it even more attractive to foreigners, Turkish cuisine is known around the world for its delicious tasty meals. From sipping the famous Turkish tea to visiting the famous restaurants in the country,  a detour in Turkey always seems like a good idea.