Erdogan assures Putin of the safety of Turkish resorts for Russians

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the safety of foreign tourists is one of the priorities of Turkey's policy. During the telephone conversation, the presidents agreed to maintain contacts in order to protect the health of tourists from Russia.

The conversation took place against the backdrop of an increase in the incidence of coronavirus in Turkey.

At the government meeting on COVID-19, specific restrictive measures against Turkey were not discussed, the source told Kommersant, an expert on the tourism market.

“One of the priorities (of Turkey, according to Erdogan - Kommersant) is to ensure the safety of foreign tourists. It was agreed to maintain the closest contacts between specialized structures, including for the purpose of protecting the health of Russian citizens visiting Turkey, ”the Kremlin press service reports .

The parties also agreed to increase cooperation in the fight against coronavirus, including on the supply of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine and its possible production in Turkey.

One of Kommersant's interlocutors in the tourism market says that  due to the  high economic and political risks of suspension of flights with Turkey, the decision should be made with the participation of the president. At the same time, three interlocutors of Kommersant argue that the position should be formulated and published today, on April 9.

"A variety of options are being discussed: a temporary suspension of flights, a ban on charter programs, additional controls and quarantine upon returning to Russia," the source of Kommersant enumerates.

Participants of the tourist market interviewed by Kommersant, citing their own sources, indicate that the most anticipated measure is a two-week quarantine upon arrival in Russia. "In fact, for us, this means the closure of the direction, tourists will not want to stay at home after returning from vacation, and massive cancellations will begin," says one of them.

At the same time, the regions have already begun to publish their own initiatives regarding Turkey. Thus, the Minister of Health of the Sakhalin Region, Vladimir Kuznetsov, announced the transfer of the planned start of the charter program to Turkey. “Perhaps, even on the May holidays, restrictions on travel abroad will be imposed,” Sakhalin.info quoted him as saying.

Alexandra Mertsalova, Yuri Litvinenko