Turkey: Changes to tourist visas for British nationals

Since 2010, Turkish visit visas issued at arrival ports state that they are valid for multiple stays up to a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period. Up to 31 January, this rule has not been enforced by the Turkish immigration authorities, who were operating a flexible interpretation of the requirement.

However, from 1 February, the new visa rules will be fully enforced, and you will only be able to stay in Turkey for a total of 90 days in every 180. If you plan to remain in Turkey for a period of more than 90 days after 1 February, you should either enquire about longer stay visas from your nearest Turkish Embassy before departure, or if in Turkey, you should enquire at your local Foreigners Police Department (Yabancilar Sube) before 90 days expires. If you stay in Turkey for long periods of time, it may be worth considering obtaining a residence permit.

Be careful not to overstay the 90 day period. Overstaying is taken very seriously by the Turkish Authorities. Those who overstay the 90 day limit could be fined, detained, deported and banned from re-entering Turkey.

Turkey broadens its appeal to the other British Tourists

For many years Turkey and its holiday locations of Bodrum, Fethiye, Antalya and Istanbul to a degree have attracted tourists from the UK on its value for money, or cheap and cheerful to be more accurate.  While this image has brought the volume of tourists to Turkey, it has to be said it has not brought the most profitable side of tourism.

Things are changing though as more affluent visitors from the UK are starting to wake up to it’s more luxurious offerings and Turkey is starting to prise some of the visitors from the usual haunts of the rich or at least moderately rich and famous. Recent reports from the Turkeys 5 star and quality Boutique Hotels are finding an increase in numbers from the UK, while still not at the level of the Russians, Scandinavians, Germans and Middle Eastern which are the main stay of visitors, it is a trend that is to be encouraged to further with companies such as Luxury Holidays in Turkey providing and alternative for the more discerning visitor.

 Ali Kizildag General Manager of The Calista Luxury Resort  “ says last year we saw a small increase in the number of British visitors although the main of visitors are from the Scandinavia, Russia and the Middle East. Ali Kizildag goes on to say “without exception everyone who came from the UK we asked about for their views on Turkey before they arrived, and they all said how pleasantly surprised they were to find the high standard of Hotels, Restaurants and facilities available.

While Istanbul appears to have the most number of UK visitors at the higher end of the Tourism spectrum other locations are still widely ignored, apart from a small number in places such as Belek and parts of Bodrum .  A 500 bedroom Hotel in Belek which did not wish to be named had strong views and said we see some of the British that come to Turkey and quite honestly we would not want them in our Hotel our clientele expects to be able to enjoy a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere without the overly drunk and boisterous British. We see and hear of places like Kusadasi ,Gumbet-Bodrum and Altinkum which he described as not Turkey but British. Going on to say who decent would want to be surrounded by all the drunkenness aggression, decent people just want a nice relaxed holiday and atmosphere.

Until now the main problem for the UK, in respect of Turkey, is the image that has developed over time and the lack of options actually available when looking at the more luxurious end of the tourism market. The cheap price tag label with the majority of UK visitors will no doubt remain whilst it appears the majority of UK tour operators stick with price conscious Brits and it has to be said Turkeys own UK promotional activity which has definitely been aimed at this end of the market. Maybe this is not a reflection on Turkey but a reflection of how the UK is perceived?