In April, hotels in Turkey may cancel most covid restrictions, including the distribution of food by staff instead of the usual buffet. The draft law, with appropriate concessions from the TGA (Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency), hit the Turkish profile groups before publication.
According to an unofficially confirmed document, 15 items may be excluded from the Turkish safe tourism certificate, which was issued to hotels during the pandemic. The TGA has reportedly already notified audit firms of the changes.
Among the planned important changes for tourists of the certificate:
– hotels will again have a regular self-service open buffet. Showcases from which staff distributes dishes to guests will be removed. Tourists will also be able, as before, to pour tea and coffee themselves.
– the requirement for disposable tableware will be abolished, the rule on the mandatory presence of sanitizers on dining tables will also be abolished. Instead of disposable shampoo and soap, hotels can supply regular dispensers in the rooms.
– the temperature measurement of staff and guests will be discontinued, the rule of a large distance between tables, chairs and sun loungers in the open air will be canceled.
– questionnaires about “covid rules” at the reception will be removed, information materials in the rooms and on the territory about precautionary measures, hygiene methods and other “pandemic” rules that guests must comply with will also no longer be needed.
– the restriction of sessions of 30 minutes in saunas / baths / spas in hotels will be canceled.
– remove the requirement for masks for everyone, except for those who are isolated in their rooms with symptoms.
The TGA is expected to release the final version of the draft easing on April 1st and it will come into effect on April 10th. So far, there has been no announcement from the agency. Turkish hoteliers who have seen the document note that the document posted in groups is similar to the original, but most likely it has not yet been approved by the departments. Final changes in the protocol should be expected by the end of March.
Earlier, Turkey has already abandoned some anti-COVID measures. So, in early March, the mandatory wearing of masks on the street and the use of an application with HES codes were canceled.