Foreign office updates turkey travel advice after brits die in popular activity

THE NEW ADVICE COMES AMID ONGOING PROTESTS IN ISTANBUL AND OTHER CITIES 17:44, 21 May 2025 The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an update for its

travel advice for Turkey. A new alert was issued by the FCDO for Turkey on Tuesday, May 20, following incidents where UK tourists have died or been seriously injured, with the Foreign Office

stating: "Paragliding is an extreme sport and carries the risk of serious injury or death. "British nationals have died or been seriously injured whilst paragliding in Turkey.

Ensure you receive full instructions and training before your activity. "If you are near where paragliding activities take place, be aware that the landing area may be in a public area.

Maintain a reasonable distance from potential landing zones for your personal safety." Updates from the FCDO, who is responsible for providing regular travel advice for approximately

226 overseas countries and territories, include information on safety and security, regional risks, health, and alcohol among others. Turkey is a popular destination among UK holidaymakers,

and existing advice includes only to buy alcoholic beverages from licensed stores, bars and hotels, to avoid homemade alcoholic drinks, check bottle seals are intact, and check labels for

poor quality or spelling errors. The gov.uk website states that you should seek urgent medical attention if you or anybody you are travelling with falls ill after drinking alcohol while

visiting Turkey. Those travelling on a British passport are reminded that they will need their document to have an expiry date at least 150 days after the date they arrive - and at least one

blank page. You can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for business or tourism. Advice on Gov.uk reads: "If entering at a land border, make sure

officials stamp and date your passport at the border crossing. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. "Renew your passport if

you need to. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen." Holidaymakers visiting Turkey are also

being warned to take care around the country because of ongoing demonstrations in Istanbul and other cities. Article continues below The warning on the gov.uk website reads: "Regular

demonstrations and protests are currently taking place in Istanbul and other cities across Turkey. Demonstrations may become violent. The police response has included use of tear gas and

water cannons." As well as that, the FCDO warns that ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine have led to "heightened tensions" in the region. The warning reads: "Avoid

all demonstrations and leave the area if one develops. Local transport routes may be disrupted."