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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jess Flaherty & Sophie Law

Turkey to allow Scots holidaymakers if they have document proving they're coronavirus-free

Scots will be allowed to go on holiday to Turkey - if they can prove they are healthy with a newly created document.

Government officials have announced plans for tourists who do not have coronavirus to be able to enter the country, as long as they are carrying the certificate.

Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy told local media that holidaymakers will need the official document detailing their health status.

The scheme will declare tourist spots as coronavirus-free zones.

The industry has taken a hit during the coronavirus outbreak, leading to officials drawing up proposals to salvage it.

The certification system will include three pillars which will cover transportation, facilities and passengers, the Liverpool Echo reports.

The tourist industry has taken a hit during the coronavirus outbreak, leading to officials to put plans in place to salvage it (Getty Images)

Under the new programme, Ersoy also stressed the importance of sterilising vehicles, hotels, airports, restaurants, agencies, museums and historical sites.

Tourism industry staff will also be required to get an immunity certificate and pandemic training in order to maximise a successful approach to the virus.

Experts believe cases of the deadly virus in Turkey will continue through April and early May before they start to decline.

Ersoy said the normalisation phase in Turkey could begin as early as the second week of May,  according to TRT World.

He added: "We have started the certification process to determine the coronavirus-free zones under a system."

He explained an immunity certificate would also be required of international visitors.

He said: "This will probably be an example to the world that we have developed. By gradually including all NGOs in the commission, we aim to finalise this certification system quickly in the first week of May."

Turkey is a popular holiday destination, with British nationals making around 2.5 million visits to Turkey in 2019.

But the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is advising British nationals against all non-essential international travel while the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The advice came into effect on March 17, and while it initially applied for a period of 30 days, the travel ban is now listed as “indefinite” in length.

The FCO was already advising against all but essential travel or all travel to some areas or countries due to risks that do not relate to COVID-19.

For more updates visit our coronavirus live blog.

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