Turkey protests

7 June 2013

Anti-government protests in Turkey have spread to tourist resorts, including Fethiye, Marmaris and Bodrum, but local tour operators have confirmed that they have not had any reports of travellers being affected. 

Theresa Szejwallo, managing director of the Travel Corporation confirmed that groups from all of the company’s brands are operating as normal. “At The Travel Corporation the safety and welfare of our guests is our number one priority and we are monitoring the situation in Turkey closely.”

Ben Yitzhak of Heavenly Tours International added that to his knowledge the protests are contained and not posing any threat to travellers.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the protests had been mostly peaceful so far but warned travellers to avoid all demonstrations in cities across the country:  “Local transport routes may be disrupted. You may wish to allow extra time for local travel, particularly airport transfers.”

Further violent protests remained possible, it added.

The largest demonstrations have been taking place in central Istanbul on Taksim Square, on Istiklal Street and in the Besiktas area.  The centre of the protests in Ankara has been the central Kizilay district around the prime minister’s office. The focus in Izmir has been in the town centre, near the waterfront.