How safe is your holiday? Popular destinations including Turkey, Egypt and France examined as ISIS threaten UK ships

Million of Brits are flocking to UK airports this summer in search of dream holidays abroad.

While many will head to different countries in Europe, others will look further afield - but central to many people's minds will be the threat of terrorism and unrest.

After heavily armed troops and police have been drafted in to French ports to prevent an Islamic State terror attack on a UK-bound ferry, the growing threat of ISIS and other terror groups leaves many people fearful of travelling.

Dozens of reinforcements have been moved to Calais after intelligence warnings that ferries sailing to Britain are at heightened risk of an ISIS atrocity.

At home, the threat level is currently "severe" - meaning an attack on UK soil is "highly likely".

The countries in red are at 'high' risk of terrorist attacks, while those in orange are at 'general' risk

But is this the same case when travelling abroad? Are Brits safe going on their holidays?

We looked at some of the main tourist destinations and their current threat level according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Foreign Office uses four ratings when judging the threat of a terrorist attack in its travel advice: High, General, Underlying and Low.

France

Risk level: High

France is the most popular tourist destination for British people with a staggering 17 million of us travelling to our European neighbour each year.

While the vast majority of visits are incident free and with pick-pocketing the major source of crime against Brits, the nation is under high alert from the threat of terror attacks.

Three separate but shocking attacks have rocked France in the past 18 months.

84 people, including 10 children, died in the terror attack on the Bastille Day celebration in Nice on 14 July 2016.

People visit the scene and lay tributes to the victims of a terror attack in Nice

130 people were killed when suicide bombers and gunmen carried out a series of horrific attacks in Paris last November .

During the massacre, the attackers struck the capital's Bataclan theatre, cafés and restaurants, injuring a further 368 people.

At the time, France was already on a 'high' alert following the shooting at the Charlie Hebdo offices in January last year.

Medics evacuate people close to the Bataclan Theatre

The nation remains at a 'high' risk of terrorism and a state of national emergency has been declared.

The FCO says on its website: "Due to ongoing threats to France by Islamist terrorist groups, and recent French military intervention against Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL), the French government has warned the public to be especially vigilant and has reinforced its security measures."

It also advises motorists to keep car doors locked in slow moving traffic in and around Calais in case migrants try to stow away in your vehicle.

Turkey

Risk level: High

More than 2.5 million Brits visit Turkey each year and while it is generally considered safe to travel, the nation has recently experienced an upsurge in terror incidents

At Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul on June 28 2016, 41 people were killed after an attacker sprayed the departures hall with an automatic rifle, sending passengers diving for cover and trying to flee, before all three blew themselves up in the arrivals hall a floor below.

Then on July 15 2016, an attempted coup saw reports of gunfire and explosions in Ankara and Istanbul, with military on the streets. There were also reports of gunfire between the resorts of Marmaris and Icmeler. Brits were advised to stay indoors and avoid public places.

There were previous terror attacks this year in January, February, April , May and June.

Advice about where to travel in Turkey

The UK's Foreign Office also warns against all but essential travel to parts of Sirnak, Mardin, Sanliurfa, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Kilis and Hatay provinces as well as Siirt, Tunceli and Hakkari.

It strongly advises Brits elsewhere in Turkey to stay indoors, avoid public places, in particular demonstrations, and remain vigilant.

Avoid areas of conflict and take sensible precautions if you are in the vicinity of any military or security forces. Roadblocks are in place in some areas.

If you are due to travel to or from Turkey over the next few days, you should monitor developments and check with your airline or tour operator before travelling.

British nationals requiring assistance in Turkey can contact the Foreign Office on 0207 008 0000.

Check our latest Turkey travel advice from airlines.

Is it safe to travel to Turkey now? Latest travel advice for 2016 holidays

Egypt

Risk level: High

Egypt's tourist economy has been rocked by a number of terror incidents - including the horrific attack on a passenger jet flying out of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The plane, carrying 224 passengers and crew, was brought down by a bomb and crashed in the Sinai desert, killing everyone on board.

As a result of this, the British Government has advised against all but essential travel, by air, to or from Sharm el-Sheikh.

This does not include the resort itself - which has increased security in place - but only air travel to or from it.

Aside from bomb or machine gun attacks, there is also the threat of kidnapping in Egypt - particularly in remote desert areas.

Last summer, a Croatian man was kidnapped and murdered in the country.

A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for his murder and the FCO has warned that Britain does not negotiate with hostage-takers.

The Foreign Office has warned against travel to certain parts of Egypt

It says on its website: "The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage-takers.

"The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage-taking."

It adds: "There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria.

"You should be vigilant at this time.

The most active terrorist group in Egypt is Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis.

Spain

Risk level: High

More than 12million Brits visit Spain every year, with many heading to the beautiful, sandy beaches of Menorca, Ibiza, Majorca and the Costa Del Sol.

Despite suffering from terrorist attacks in the past, the country has recently managed to avoid the troubles of other Mediterranean countries.

More than 12million Brits visit Spain every year, with some heading to Cantabria (pictured)

However, the FCO still deems the terror threat in Spain 'high', with a suspected ISIS collaborator arrested by police in Majorca earlier this year .

The Moroccan-born man - who was detained by officers in Palma - is accused of promoting terror attacks in Europe.

The FCO warns: "In 2015, Spanish police disrupted a number of groups suspected of recruiting individuals to travel to Syria and Iraq.

"Some of them expressed an intention to carry out attacks in Europe. Several further police operations have taken place in 2016.

"Spanish authorities believe that a number of Spanish nationals have successfully travelled to Syria and Iraq."

On its website, the FCO remarks that there has been a number of deaths as a result of people falling from balconies while on holiday, noting: "Don't take any unnecessary risks, especially when under the influence of drink or drugs."

Germany

Risk level: High

Germany is the latest European country to have its terrorism risk rating upgraded to 'high' by the FCO.

Around two million Brits visit the nation every year, with many heading to Berlin to visit historic sites and the iconic Brandenburg Gate.

But now, increased security has been put in place at German transport hubs, public buildings and major events 'as a precaution'.

Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate is popular with British holidaymakers

The FCO says on its website: "There's no requirement to carry your passport with you, but the police are currently carrying out more frequent ID checks.

"If you're asked to show your passport and you don't have it with you, the police may escort you to wherever your passport is being kept so that you can show it to them."

Belgium

Risk level: High

Up to 1.8 million Britons visit Belgium each year but the nation has been hit with visitor number recently with a spate of horrifying terror attacks.

Belgium is now ranked as a "high" risk from terrorism following bombings at a Brussels airport and metro station .

Carnage at the check-in desk at Brussels airport following a suicide bombing

The explosions, which were the deadliest act of terrorism in the country's history, claimed the lives of 32 victims.

A further 300 people were injured in the attacks, which occurred at Zaventem Airport and Maalbeek metro station on March 22.

The FCO warns on its website that terrorists could target Belgium indiscriminately.

It adds that attacks could take place 'on public transport and transport hubs and in other places visited by foreigners'.

"There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria," it says.

"You should be vigilant at this time."

Tunisia

Risk level: High

A state of emergency is currently in effect in Tunisia following a suicide attack on a police bus last November.

There was also a terrorist shooting at a hotel in the tourist resort of Port El Kantaoui, near Suisse, last June, killing 38 people

Thirty of the victims were British.

Advice about where to travel in Tunisia

The FCO advises against all travel to the Chaambi Mountain National Park area, the Tunisia-Algeria border crossing points at Ghardimaou, Hazoua and Sakiet Sidi Youssef, the militarized zone south of, but not including, the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba, and within 5km of the Libya border area.

It also advises against all but essential travel to the rest of the country.

A terrorist shooting at a hotel in the tourist resort of Port El Kantaoui last June killed 38 people - including 30 Brits

It adds: "Further attacks remain highly likely, including against foreigners. "Security forces remain on a high state of alert in Tunis and other locations.

"You should be vigilant, avoid crowded places and follow the advice of the Tunisian security authorities and your travel company."

USA

Risk level: General

Almost 4 million Brits visit the USA each year and aside from a "general" threat of terror, holidaymakers are also warned to wary of the weather and crime.

The FCO says: "Crime associated with the illegal drugs trade is a major issue in Mexican states bordering Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.

"Some foreign nationals have been among the victims of crime in the border regions, but there is no evidence to suggest they have been targeted because of their nationality.

"Research your destination before travelling, be vigilant, and follow the advice of local authorities."

Italy

Risk level: General

A popular destination with Brits, Italy has a 'general' threat from terrorism.

However, the FCO says most attacks are carried out against 'official Italian targets'.

It writes on its website: "There are isolated cases of domestic terrorism.

"Attacks carried out by the extreme left-wing and secessionist groups have generally been aimed at official Italian targets, mainly in the form of small bombs and incendiary devices."

A popular destination with Brits, Italy has a 'general' threat from terrorism Denmark

Risk level: General

Last February, two civilians were killed in two shootings in the Østerbro and Krystalgade areas of Copenhagen.

Five cops were also wounded in the shocking attacks, which are both thought to have been linked and 'terrorist-related'.

The country is ranked as having a 'general' threat from terrosim.

"You should be vigilant at this time," the FCO says on its website.

Greece

Risk level: General

There is a 'general' threat from terrorism in Greece, with Brits warned that attacks could happen in tourist hotspots.

The FCO says: "British nationals aren't normally considered a specific target, but attacks could happen in places visited by foreigners."

There is a 'general' threat from terrorism in Greece, with Brits warned that attacks could happen in tourist hotspots

In recent years, there have been a number of explosions and shootings at Greek shopping malls, public buildings and government offices.

Croatia

Risk level: Underlying

Croatia has been given an "Underlying" risk level.

The FCO says: "Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers."

More than two million Brits visit Portugal every year, with most trips 'trouble-free' Portugal

Risk level: Underlying

More than two million Brits visit Portugal every year, with most trips 'trouble-free'.

However, the FCO warns there is an 'underlying' risk of terrorism.

It also advises holidaymakers to be aware of street thieves looking to steal money and passports.

Source: How safe is your holiday? Popular destinations including Turkey, Egypt and France examined as ISIS threaten UK ships

Despite unrest, Turkey is a fantastic destination for travelers

For over a year now, I've been bringing you the best things to do in Pennsylvania in this weekly column. However, this week, I wanted to talk about something a little different.

Before I started traveling Pennsylvania back in 2013, I spent most of my time traveling outside of the country. All told, I've spent close to three years of my life working and traveling through other parts of the world and have visited more than 30 countries. In all that time, I have come across few places that were as wonderful and welcoming as Turkey.

Turkey has been in the news a lot in the last month -- first for a terrorist attack at their main airport in Istanbul and, more recently, for the coup that was quickly put down. Despite all of this negative attention, I can honestly say that I would go back to Turkey in a heartbeat.

My visit to Turkey a few years ago lasted for three weeks and took me from Trabzon, in Turkey's northeastern corner, across the country to the southwestern corner and finally to Istanbul. My travel was done independently and on local buses, giving me a great chance to see into the real Turkey during my brief stay.

Istanbul's Hagia Sophia is one of the most impressive religious structures in the world and is over 1,000 years old.Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive 

Istanbul is the country's largest city, and it both figuratively and literally spans the border between Europe and Asia. Walking along the city's streets, through its large markets, and past its beautiful mosques gives visitors a chance to see the many cultures that have influenced the city over the millennia.

Two of the most well-known sites in the city are the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Hagia Sophia was built in the 4th century and has served as both a church and a mosque, while the Blue Mosque is newer (16th century) and still functions as a mosque. Since these two religious structures sit opposite each other, they offer visitors the chance to see how artistic and architectural styles changed over the years.

Istanbul is also a city along the water, spanning the length of the Bosphorus between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Frequent ferries run along the Bosphorus, taking locals and visitors between the European and Asian sides of the city. These ferries also offer an inexpensive way to see the city from the water.

East of Istanbul, Turkey continues to offer a unique mix of culture, nature, and history to visitors. One of the most popular destinations in the country is the ruins of Ephesus. This ancient Greek city was occupied for over a millennia, starting in the 10th century B.C., and was mentioned on several occasions in the Bible.

The ruins of Ephesus.Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive 

The ruins here are some of the most impressive ancient ruins in the world and are worth the trip from Istanbul to see. While in the area, don't miss the single pillar remaining from the nearby Temple of Artemis, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Another fascinating destination in Turkey is the Cappadocia region. This area is known for its Fairy Chimneys, stone pillars which dot the landscape. Visitors can walk amongst these amazing natural formations, see ancient homes and churches carved into their walls, stay in cave hotels and even ride in a hot air balloon over the formations.

The Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia are some of the most unique geological features in the world.Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive 

Turkey is also known for its beaches and seaside resorts, especially along its Mediterranean coast. Visitors flock from all over the world to vacation at these seaside resorts in southern Turkey. Clear water, beautiful weather, and a myriad of small islands make this a perfect destination for beach lovers.

Another great reason to visit Turkey is the amazing food. This ancient culture is known for having some of the world's best food, and dishes such as baklava, Turkish delight, and kebabs can be found at various restaurants in the United States.

There's no question that Turkey is fraught with uncertainty right now. However, there are few more amazing destinations in the world and a trip to Turkey should be on every traveler's bucket list. Having spent several weeks exploring this fantastic place, I can't wait to go back and uncover even more of this beautiful country.

Jim Cheney is the writer behind UncoveringPA, Pennsylvania's most read travel blog. He has traveled to every county in Pennsylvania, and to many countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. He lives in Harrisburg, Pa.

Source: Despite unrest, Turkey is a fantastic destination for travelers

Uruguay will not fund Turkey ticket for vanished ex Guantanamo inmate who surfaced in Venezuela

Dhiab is one of six former Guantanamo prisoners who were resettled in Uruguay after being released by U.S. authorities in 2014, invited by ex President Jose Mujica

"Foreign Ministry points out that it does not correspond for Uruguay to financially support his travel to Uruguay, Turkey or any other country to rejoin his family".

Jon Eisenberg, a U.S. lawyer who represented Dhiab while he was detained, said he had not been in contact with the former prisoner since a phone call in June.

 Dhiab is one of six former Guantanamo prisoners who were resettled in Uruguay after being released by U.S. authorities in 2014, invited by then President Jose Mujica as a "humanitarian gesture".

In a brief release the Uruguayan foreign ministry said that Dhiab, who has been hosted in Uruguay since 2014 abandoned the country in mid June (apparently for the Ramadan celebration in neighboring Brazil) and has since vanished, turned up on Tuesday at the Uruguayan consulate in Caracas requesting he be sent to Turkey or a third destination, but not Uruguay, to rejoin his family.

"He clearly expressed that under no circumstances he was interested in returning to Uruguay, but needed the help of our country for that purpose", said the release.

"The Foreign Ministry points out that it does not correspond for Uruguay to financially support his travel to Uruguay, Turkey or any other country to rejoin his family".

Further on the ministry states that on Dhiab's request, the Consulate in Caracas facilitated phones calls to the Red Cross, his solicitor and members of his family, and later abandoned the premises of the consulate on his own means"

The release adds that the Venezuelan authorities are aware of the presence of Dhiab in their territory. Likewise his legal status of refugee has not changed but only applies to Uruguayan territory. Finally the ministry points out that there is no legal impediment in the event Dhiab wishes to return or re-enter Uruguay.

In December 2014, four Syrians, a Tunisian and a Palestinian who had spent years jailed in Guantanamo, were received by Uruguay as part of a deal between then president Mujica and Barack Obama.

Mujica at first described the operation as a humanitarian gesture, but as time went on and the ex Guantanamo had trouble settling and protested Uruguay was not keeping to its side of the deal, particularly reuniting with their families, the former president exploded and said "I had to take these lads in exchange for being able to sell Uruguayan oranges to the US".

Although Mujica and the US State Department later retracted, the fact is that Uruguay now has access with citrus to the US market, and the current OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, is Mujica's former foreign ministry, a diplomat considered to have insufficient credentials and experience to hold such a post.

Dhiab, who needs crouches to move around, has repeatedly expressed his unhappiness at his life in Uruguay, previously accused the government of breaking its commitment to bring his family.

Despite spending years in Guantanamo with no solid charges against him, and forcibly fed when he went on a hunger strike, Uruguayan officials have said that as a refugee he has the right to leave the country.

Dhiab had last been reported seen in small city on the Uruguay-Brazil border that is home to an Arab community. Residents said he visited one of several mosques of the local Arab club where he prayed and slept before he was reported missing.

His disappearance raised concerns, as well as questions about how closely countries that resettle former Guantanamo inmates should watch them and for how long, as the United States prepares to release more prisoners.

U.S. lawmakers trying to block President Barack Obama from closing the detention center recently scolded his administration for losing track of Dhiab. The U.S. envoy in Montevideo also expressed concerns about the lack of information on his whereabouts. Ambassador Kelly Keiderling said it was up to Uruguay to say whether Dhiab can travel, though she added that she would prefer he stay in Uruguay. When questioned at a news conference, she said Dhiab "could be, yes, theoretically,'' a threat.

Colombia-based Avianca Airlines recently issued an internal alert saying Dhiab could be using a fake passport trying to enter Brazil, the site of the summer Olympics. The airline said the alert was issued based on information provided by Brazil's federal police, which had been looking for Dhiab.

The Uruguayan government has provided social services and financial support to Dhiab and the five other former detainees, but the men have struggled to adjust and have complained about not getting enough help from Uruguayan officials.

Dhiab was the most vocal about his unhappiness. Last year, he visited neighboring Argentina. In an orange jumpsuit like those Guantanamo prisoners have worn, he told news media in Buenos Aires that he planned to seek asylum for himself and the other detainees still held at the U.S. naval base in eastern Cuba.

In an interview with Uruguayan media, Dhiab said he was never a terrorist, but sympathizes with al-Qaida because of the torture that he endured in Guantanamo.

Jon Eisenberg, a U.S. lawyer who represented Dhiab while he was detained at Guantanamo, said he had not been in contact with the former prisoner since a phone call in June.

Eisenberg said Dhiab was very concerned about his wife and three children, who fled the Syrian civil war for Turkey but then had to return to their homeland for financial reasons. They were in a Syrian village that was bombed by government forces in November 2015.

The lawyer said that when he last spoke with the former prisoner, Dhiab was hopeful that his family might be brought to Uruguay. "That's why I thought he wouldn't leave Uruguay,'' Eisenberg said.

Dhiab's Arab speaking official contact and counselor in Uruguay, Christian Mirza said the former prisoner told him he was going to one of the Uruguay-Brazil border towns for the Ramadan festivities, with his "Arab brothers", and would be back in early August.

Source: Uruguay will not fund Turkey ticket for vanished ex Guantanamo inmate who surfaced in Venezuela

Turkish tourism nosedives 41%, worst figures ever

The number of foreign visitors to Turkey dropped 41 percent in June, reports Hurriyet Daily News. The decline is linked to an acute shortage of Russian tourists following tension between Moscow and Ankara, and a series of deadly bombings in the country.

Read more

This is the biggest decline since 1994, when the data started being tracked. The previous worst result was seen in May, which saw 34.7 percent less arrivals in the country.

The number of Russians visiting Turkey is down 87 percent in the first half of 2016.

The Kremlin imposed a travel ban after Turkey shot down a Russian jet in Syria. The ban was lifted after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologized for the incident, but Russian tourism to Turkey has not recovered.

European tourists are also staying away from Turkey after a series of terrorist attacks in the country and the failed military coup. British tourists are changing their holiday plans due to a weaker pound in the aftermath of the Brexit vote.

Tour operator Thomas Cook has shifted airline seats from Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt to the Canaries, Balearics and mainland Spain.

"Since the half year, we've taken action to further reduce our capacity to Turkey and increased sales of holidays to other areas, including the Western Mediterranean and long-haul destinations such as the USA. Growth to smaller destinations such as Bulgaria and Cuba is also strong," said Chief Executive Peter Fankhauser.

Source: Turkish tourism nosedives 41%, worst figures ever

Terror attacks fears across Europe and Turkey hit Thomas Cook as sales and summer bookings dip

By Camilla Canocchi for Thisismoney.co.uk

Published: 05:46 EST, 29 July 2016 | Updated: 05:46 EST, 29 July 2016

View comments

Thomas Cook joined other travel groups in reporting lower bookings and sales as terror attacks across Europe and a failed coup in Turkey have deterred more holidaymakers from travelling.

The world's oldest travel operator said terrorist attacks in Brussels in March and at Istanbul's airport in June dragged sales down 8 per cent to £1.85billion in the three months to the end of June.

Summer bookings were also down 5 per cent, due to the continued lower demand for holidays in Turkey, where a coup failed on 15 July leaving almost 100 people dead.

Scared to fly: Thomas Cook bookings have been hit by fears of terror attacks across Europe

Turkey had been the group's second-most popular market before ten German tourists were killed in a suicide bombing in Istanbul in January.

Now, few Brits and even fewer Germans are choosing to holiday in the country – opting instead for Spain and, increasingly, Greece. Thomas Cook said it has further reduced capacity to Turkey, redeploying this mainly to Mediterranean destinations.

'While demand for most other destinations has been strong, demand for Turkey has been volatile and remains significantly below last year's levels,' the group said.

'We have made further capacity cuts to Turkey for summer 2016 and switched this into alternative destinations including Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Cuba and the USA.'

Thomas Cook also flagged 'significantly lower demand' in Belgium as a result of the Brussels terror attacks, which killed 32 people.

In view of the lower bookings, Thomas Cook lowered its full-year profit guidance to £300million from the previous guidance of between £310-£355million.

Despite the gloomy update, shares rose 7 per cent, or 4.3p, to 64.30p as analysts' expectations were even lower.

Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'Thomas Cook is facing severe disruptions right now, with political upheaval, acts of terrorism, and the fall in the pound resulting from Brexit all serving to deter holiday makers from travelling.

'Thomas Cook's bookings to Turkish resorts have naturally been badly affected by the turmoil there, though the company is looking west for new opportunities as it has seen a rise in bookings to Spain, Cuba, and the US.'

Thomas Cook's chief executive Peter Fankhauser said that while Brexit has had 'no noticeable impact' on bookings, Britain's vote to desert the European Union has 'added to a general sense of uncertainty - for our business and our customers alike'.

Turmoil: A coup attempt failed on 15 July in Istanbul, Turkey,  leaving almost 100 people dead

Although early in the booking cycle, holiday bookings for this winter are progressin g well, Thomas Cook said.

Low-cost airline easyJet last week warned that this summer will be its toughest holiday season for years as the airline revealed bookings had fallen after the Brexit vote and passenger confidence has been knocked by a spate of terrorist attacks.

 

Source: Terror attacks fears across Europe and Turkey hit Thomas Cook as sales and summer bookings dip

Thomas Cook revenue falls after terrorist attacks slow holiday demand

Thomas Cook said bookings to Turkey were down by up to 40% after it cut the number of flights to the country. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

All-inclusive package holidays could become more popular as British holidaymakers try and avoid Brexit-related price rises, according to Thomas Cook.

The travel company revealed on Thursday that it had slumped to a quarterly loss and would miss annual profit targets after terrorist attacks in Turkey hit trade.

Thomas Cook reported a £25m pretax loss on operations in the three months to 30 June, compared with a £3m profit in the same period a year before, after revenues slid 8% to £1.85bn. It now expects an annual profit of £300m compared with previous forecasts of between £310m and £335m.

Related: Sharp rise in cost of holidays abroad leads to staycation boom

Despite the warning, shares in Thomas Cook rose 6.5% to 63.9p as investors appeared relieved trading was not worse and chief executive Peter Fankhauser suggested Thomas Cook could benefit from a change in holiday habits.

"Package holidays are already popular but they could become even more popular in this environment, because of the uncertainty on price movement and, in this volatile environment that we are taking care [of holidaymakers] whatever happens at their destination," Fankhauser said.

The value of the pound has sunk 12% against the the dollar and 9% against the euro since the UK voted to exit the EU last month, potentially raising the cost of holiday spending money, hotels and travel abroad. But Fankhauser said Thomas Cook had hedged its currency arrangements until next autumn so that its holiday prices would not change. "It doesn't cost people more to go with us," he said.

Thomas Cook's bookings from the UK were down 1% in the three months to the end of June, but the company said it expected a strong start to the winter season in the UK, with bookings up by 19% despite Brexit worries.

Analysts at Mintel had predicted more growth in independent city breaks rather than package holidays this year but Fergal McGivney, travel analyst for the market research firm, says any recession might alter the outlook.

With heavy competition for a more limited number of package destinations, as carriers switch away from Turkey and Egypt, prices have come down and more people have already opted to take a charter flight this year. Any recession or drop in the value of the pound is only likely to increase price competition as companies try to persuade families to go abroad rather than opting for a staycation in the UK.

"Everything is up in the air following Brexit but if there is a recession it could give package holidays a boost," McGivney said. But he said he didn't think the boost would be as strong as the last recession as competition from budget players such easyJet and Ryanair was strong.

In the three months to the end of June, overall bookings at Thomas Cook slid 5% as a jump in travel to Spain and the US failed to offset a drop in holidays to Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia, all of which have been hit by terrorist attacks. So far this year bookings to Turkey were down by up to 40% after Thomas Cook cut the number of flights to the country.

The numbers reflected a 41% drop in tourists visiting Turkey in June, revealed by Ankara's tourist ministry on Thursday – its worst-ever single monthly decline.

Thomas Cook also booked £60m less business from Belgium after a bombing at Brussels airport in March disrupted travel and made locals nervous about holidaying abroad.

Thomas Cook said it expected holidaymakers to switch to Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Cuba and the US as alternatives to Turkey and Egypt.

Fankhauser said: "We are operating in a challenging geopolitical environment, with repeated disruption in some of our key source and destination markets. In addition, while Brexit has had no noticeable impact on our bookings so far, it has added to a general sense of uncertainty – for our business and our customers alike."

Source: Thomas Cook revenue falls after terrorist attacks slow holiday demand

Turkey: instability hits ATU as TAV revises pax

Terrorist incidents in Turkey have begun to hurt ATU Duty Free revenue based on first half results, while IST operator, TAV Airports, now expects a -20% decline in O&D pax for the year.

July's attempted coup and subsequent crackdown by President Erdogan across all areas of government, media, the judiciary and society is also set to have a major impact on traffic at IST, Turkey's main gateway and the third largest in Europe.

TAV Airports yesterday heavily revised down its guidance. In a note, it said: "While Istanbul international passenger numbers were flat in the first half of 2016, origin and destination (O&D) passengers decreased -14%. In 2016, we expect a -20% decrease in O&D pax at Istanbul."

Sener: 'Security concerns are affecting passenger behaviour and decreasing travel to countries like ours with intense security issues.'

The operator says that it expects "stable revenue" for the year but a decrease in EBITDAR of -8% to -10% and a "significant decrease in net profit".

TAV Airports Holding Executive Board Member & CEO Sani Sener comments: "Global security concerns continue to dominate the agenda in the global aviation sector. Security concerns are affecting passenger behaviour and decreasing travel to countries like ours with intense security issues."

ATU REVENUE SLIPS BELOW $350m  

Meanwhile in the first half of the year, ATU Duty Free [half owned by TAV Airport and half by Unifree in which Gebr. Heinemann has a major interest] saw revenue slip slightly by -1.9% to €313.6m/$347m with spend per head at IST also nudging down slightly to €15.80 from €16 in the first half of 2015. International traffic at IST during the period was flat at 19.6m

While this was a stable performance, ATU's EBITDA was slashed in the second quarter to €9.4m from €14.2m in the same quarter a year before indicating that it is under more pressure.

Spend per head as well as overall revenue at ATU were slightly down at Ataturk Airport in the first half.

That pressure will increase in the second half given the new traffic forecast from TAV, and the fact that these results were not yet affected by the high profile attack on Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) at the end of June. The incident left dozens of people dead and injured. The July coup aftermath [as described above] is also expected to have a longer lasting impact on tourism to Turkey due to the instability that is now present in the country.

Source: Turkey: instability hits ATU as TAV revises pax

An Indian couple landed in Turkey 72 hours after the coup. What they witnessed will surprise you!

Travel Staff | Last Updated: July 27, 2016

Our first sight of Istanbul was the Bosphorus Bridge (pictured below). We had seen the iconic bridge that connects Asia and Europe only in photographs. It was a surreal feeling looking at it as our plane descended upon the country that had witnessed a failed coup attempt just 72 hours ago. The second thing we saw was the port of Istanbul where hundreds of cargo ships had docked for the day. And then there were the minarets, all of which looked alike to the tourist's eye. (ALSO SEE 15 spectacular photos of Turkey that will spark your wanderlust)

The failed coup had made international headlines and Istanbul resembled a war-zone, if only for a few hours. From the plane window Istanbul looked peaceful. But there was no telling how things would be on ground. We'd been hearing conflicting reports. A friend who calls Istanbul home had told me in no uncertain terms that traveling to Turkey was a terrible idea. Our parents were frantically calling up from Mumbai asking us to cancel the Turkey leg of our journey.

Simultaneously, there were others who told us that things had returned to normal. A former colleague who has connections in the diplomatic community assured me that it was safe to travel to Istanbul. Meanwhile, we were glued on to the Twitter accounts of the Indian Embassy in Turkey and that of Sushma Swaraj.

When you travel as a couple you do tend to become more cautious about the places you visit and we didn't want to jeopardize what had so far been a great holiday. We were in Prague when we heard that US had resumed air traffic to Turkey. And so we decided to follow our instincts and got on to that flight.

It was 1 pm on July 19, just three days after the coup attempt was foiled, when we landed at Ataturk International Airport (pictured above). As it turned out, we weren't the only ones who had refused to heed all warnings; there were hundreds, indeed thousands others who had flown into Istanbul despite the events that had unfolded just days before. In fact, the flight we took (from Prague) was full!

The first thing we noticed after getting out of the airport was the heavy military presence around the airport. This wasn't surprising because less than a month ago the airport witnessed a terrorist attack that killed 45 people and injured over 230 others. As we drove away from the airport, the military presence thinned gradually. So much so that by the time we reached Karakoy (pictured above), Istanbul's commercial district, there were almost no soldiers at all! What we did see though were Turkish flags… lots of them. Almost everyone walking on the road was carrying one, every corner, every building, every other car had one too. Even the minarets of the Blue Mosque had the Turkish flag fluttering.

While this is not peak tourist season in Turkey, hotels usually have 60-75 per cent occupancy. But the hotel we checked into had all of two guests: us! The owner was upset with the coup. It couldn't have come at a worse time, he said. The June airport bombings had spooked most of his prospective customers and the coup had managed to spook the remaining ones. He couldn't stop thanking us for not cancelling on him. Since he didn't have anyone else to entertain, he took it upon himself to tell us how to get around Istanbul. He pulled out a map and pointed us to places we should visit. Then he told us something that we didn't believe the first time we heard it: we wouldn't have to spend a single lira getting around if we took public transport! As it turned out the President, in order to appease the citizens, announced that all modes of transport in Istanbul — trams, buses, ferries and metro — would be free till July 20!

First a VIP treatment at the hotel, now free rides all over the city, this leg was turning out to be a dream-come-true! Trams and buses were crowded; obviously the locals were making the most of the free rides. Even at 9.30 pm the trams were running full. If we hadn't read about it, we would have never known there was an attempted coup d'etat just 72 hours ago!

The first time we saw soldiers in the main city was at the Grand Bazaar (pictured above). A handful of them guarded the various entrances of the 15th century market and even fewer policemen patrolled the many streets. Barring the many flags, it was business as usual at the bazaar. The traders haggled with us, refusing to give in to our demands for a discount… the situation was that normal!

Despite the coup, Istanbul was everything we had imagined it to be: colorful, crowded and chaotic. Scenes of people sitting at roadside cafes sipping local Turkish tea, foreign exchange dealers shouting out rates to brokers on mobile phones, the humdrum of business being conducted in the ancient market… it was everything we had seen in the movies and more. If the coup had disrupted life, it was only for a day (or even lesser).

Later that night, we stepped out of the hotel to buy some clothes (the airline had misplaced our luggage) and at the advice of my hotel manager we headed down to Taksim Square (pictured above) where an unexpected sight greeted me. Close to 500 people had gathered at the square in what seemed like an impromptu music concert. People were singing songs, dancing and waving their national flag. It was one big party and we just became part of it. This was a country that was just recovering from a terrorist attack, a coup in a manner that we had never seen before. The sea of humanity that welcomed us, made us feel part of something larger than ourselves.

The next day, we took the flight to Nevsehir airport, the closest to Cappadocia (pictured below), the historical region known for its ballooning. We checked into a hotel that had converted the natural caves into rooms. As in Istanbul, we had the pick of the rooms and we checked into the best one!

Even though normalcy had returned to the country and its capital, tourism was clearly affected. The attack and the coup had driven tourists away from Turkey. For a country that had become the sexy new destination for the young and the restless only a couple of years ago, this was clearly a blow. (ALSO READ Amazing natural wonders of the world: Goreme in Turkey)

Almost everyone we spoke to was angry about the coup — some even suggested that it was the President that had engineered it — because it was affecting the business. They blamed the media for making brouhaha about the coup. We could see why they were upset. Everywhere we looked around locals were going about their business like nothing had happened. But there were almost no tourists. Reality was far different from what we had made of the situation. Perception made all the difference and today Turkey was being made out to be a war-torn country which it wasn't.

Here we were at Cappadocia, getting into a balloon that typically accommodates 25 people with just ten other passengers for company. On a good day in Cappadocia there are about 70-80 balloons in the air. We counted no more than a couple of dozen.

When we returned to Istanbul, we discovered that the President had extended the free transportation offer to July 25. Needless to say we made the most of it. We checked the Blue Mosque (pictured above, the Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower and Topkapi palace from our list. We shopped, we did everything we were supposed to do and more and we didn't spend anything on local transport. (DON'T MISS Turkey and nine other countries that issue e-visas for Indians)

As we took the metro — our last free ride — to the airport, we watched the city pass by. The beautiful, ancient buildings looked back at us, making it even more difficult for us to leave.

Sure it was fun — to be treated like a VIP, to have the best of the rooms to yourselves, to be driven around the city for no extra cost and zoom past queues at places that would usually be very, very crowded. But it also felt wrong because people's livelihoods were at stake. We had spent just a few days in Turkey and all we had were fond memories, of people welcoming us warmly, guiding us to our destinations, even insisting on escorting us to ensure we reached safely… and expecting nothing in return.

There have been several conspiracy theories about the coup — some suggest that America was involved — but none of them will ever make up for the loss of that balloon pilot or that hotel owner or indeed even the taxi driver who sets out at the break of dawn to make a lira or two.

*Names changed

Photographs: Shutterstock and Getty Images

First Published: July 27, 2016
Source: An Indian couple landed in Turkey 72 hours after the coup. What they witnessed will surprise you!

Fearing Terrorism, Europeans Look for Safer Vacation Destinations

Almudena Martin is scrambling to keep up with tourists flooding to the Canary Islands hotels where she works. Reservations are up as much as 20 percent this year as terror attacks and security worries elsewhere draw visitors to the safety of countries like Spain.

"There's been a lot of last-minute bookings, we've had to hire new staff and redo our planning board for the summer to cope with new demand," said the assistant general manager at Seaside Hotels, which has two five-star properties on the islands. "We also have many clients who have stayed with us twice this year because it's a safe destination."

After multiple attacks in France and a failed coup in Turkey, both Spain and its Iberian neighbor Portugal are forecasting a record number of visitors this year as tourists seek sun in destinations perceived as safer. For Portugal, it's also helping fuel a push to keep the destination on travelers' year-round itineraries.

"Portugal always shows up as a safe destination," the nation's Economy Minister Manuel Caldeira Cabral said in an interview. The country is working to find different segments, like sporting and corporate events, to fill hotels in the winter. "Next year, we are going to see less concentration in the peak season and a more even spread of tourists not only across the time frame of the year, but also across the country."

Tourism is big business for both economies — generating about 10 percent of gross domestic product in both Spain and Portugal. In Spain, arrivals were up 7.4 percent through May this year, while visitor spending jumped 7.8 percent. Overnight stays by non-residents in Portugal advanced 13 percent in the same period.

Regional Unrest

Turkey and France have seen the opposite. France, the world's most visited country, suffered an 8.7 percent drop in foreign visitors in the fourth quarter of last year — when terrorists killed 130 people in and around Paris.

Turkey "is seen as conflict area," said Professor Josep Francesc Valls, a lecturer at ESADE Business School in Spain. As people increasingly shun it, they turn to Iberia because the visitor profile of many of those who go to Turkey — European families seeking sunny weather — is similar to that in Spain, according to Valls.

Portuguese Investment

That's not to say that Portugal is taking anything for granted — it has bolstered security measures at airports and popular tourist destinations, following the "terrible events" in France and Turkey, Cabral said. It's also increased the number of doctors in the Algarve region in the summer.

The government is providing credit lines for innovative hotel projects and to help existing hotel owners renovate their properties. It's also building a free wifi network in historic centers across the country as it simplifies legislation on short-term rentals in a bid to increase the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Portugal, said Cabral. His government is also playing a role in helping Lisbon attract big conferences such as November's "The Web Summit," one of the world's biggest gatherings of start-ups.

"When tourism is going quite well we have to work to guarantee that this is not a peak or a fashion but a trend," said Cabral. "And we want to maintain that trend."

At the Conrad Algarve Hotel in Quinta do Logo, rooms cost about 500 euros ($550) a night in high season but that hasn't kept people from selecting it this summer, according to its director.

"Overall, our bookings for the summer are well above expectations," said Joachim Hartl. "One of the big factors of this destination is safety and security. This has helped increase tourism overall to Portugal." That will "surely" benefit Portugal in the off-peak season, he added.

Italy, Too

The impact isn't limited to just Spain and Portugal, according to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. In Costa Smeralda, an upscale stretch of seaside resorts in Sardinia, the company's growth was 33 percent in the first six months from the year earlier.

"There was a significant increase in bookings from both Italian and foreign travelers because indeed, they feel more secure in Italy now," said Robert Koren, a company vice president, in a statement.

Spanish Trend

While Spain is no stranger to violence, its last major terrorist attack was 12 years ago. The country enjoyed a bumper year for tourism last year, with a record 68 million visitors arriving to the nation as it became one of the main beneficiaries of the political unrest across the Mediterranean. And it looks on track to hit a new milestone this year, according to Madrid-based agency Exceltur, which sees Spain hitting a fresh high of 74 million tourists.

One of them is Hungarian Laszlo Ludas. The 43-year-old IT manager was on his sixth trip to Spain, stopping in Madrid to take in the Hieronymous Bosch exhibit at the Prado.

"I just love Spain — the culture, the language," he said last week, sipping coffee as he waited in line. "It's true safety can't be guaranteed anywhere, but I don't worry about security here."

–With assistance from Maria Ermakova Mark Deen and Ainhoa Goyeneche To contact the reporters on this story: Henrique Almeida in Lisbon at halmeida5@bloomberg.net, Maria Tadeo in Madrid at mtadeo@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jerrold Colten at jcolten@bloomberg.net, Celeste Perri, Vidya Root

©2016 Bloomberg L.P.

This article was written by Henrique Almeida and Maria Tadeo from Bloomberg and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.

Source: Fearing Terrorism, Europeans Look for Safer Vacation Destinations

Terror sends Europe's holidaymakers to safety of Spain, Portugal

Almudena Martin is scrambling to keep up with tourists flooding to the Canary Islands hotels where she works. Reservations are up as much as 20 percent this year as terror attacks and security worries elsewhere draw visitors to the safety of countries like Spain.

"There's been a lot of last-minute bookings. We've had to hire new staff and redo our planning board for the summer to cope with new demand," said the assistant general manager at Seaside Hotels, which has two five-star properties on the islands. "We also have many clients who have stayed with us twice this year because it's a safe destination."

After multiple attacks in France and a failed coup in Turkey, both Spain and its Iberian neighbor Portugal are forecasting a record number of visitors this year as tourists seek sun in destinations perceived as safer. For Portugal, it's also helping fuel a push to keep the destination on travelers' year-round itineraries.

"Portugal always shows up as a safe destination," the nation's Economy Minister Manuel Caldeira Cabral said in an interview. The country is working to find different segments, like sporting and corporate events, to fill hotels in the winter. "Next year, we are going to see less concentration in the peak season and a more even spread of tourists not only across the time frame of the year, but also across the country."

Tourism is big business for both economies -- generating about 10 percent of gross domestic product in both Spain and Portugal. In Spain, arrivals were up 7.4 percent through May this year, while visitor spending jumped 7.8 percent. Overnight stays by non-residents in Portugal advanced 13 percent in the same period.

Turkey and France have seen the opposite. The nation's travel agency association is forecasting a drop of up to 40 percent in 2016 income. France, the world's most visited country, suffered an 8.7 percent drop in foreign visitors in the fourth quarter of last year -- when terrorists killed 130 people in and around Paris.

Turkey "is seen as conflict area," said Professor Josep Francesc Valls, a lecturer at ESADE Business School in Spain. As people increasingly shun it, they turn to Iberia because the visitor profile of many of those who go to Turkey -- European families seeking sunny weather -- is similar to that in Spain, according to Valls.

That's not to say that Portugal is taking anything for granted -- it has bolstered security measures at airports and popular tourist destinations, following the "terrible events" in France and Turkey, Cabral said. It's also increased the number of doctors in the Algarve region in the summer.

The government is providing credit lines for innovative hotel projects and to help existing hotel owners renovate their properties. It's also building a free wifi network in historic centers across the country as it simplifies legislation on short-term rentals in a bid to increase the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Portugal, said Cabral. His government is also playing a role in helping Lisbon attract big conferences such as November's "The Web Summit," one of the world's biggest gatherings of start-ups.

"When tourism is going quite well we have to work to guarantee that this is not a peak or a fashion but a trend," said Cabral. "And we want to maintain that trend."

At the Conrad Algarve Hotel in Quinta do Logo, rooms cost about 500 euros ($550) a night in high season but that hasn't kept people from selecting it this summer, according to its director.

"Overall, our bookings for the summer are well above expectations," said Joachim Hartl. "One of the big factors of this destination is safety and security. This has helped increase tourism overall to Portugal." That will "surely" benefit Portugal in the off-peak season, he added.

The impact isn't limited to just Spain and Portugal, according to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. In Costa Smeralda, an upscale stretch of seaside resorts in Sardinia, the company's growth was 33 percent in the first six months from the year earlier.

"There was a significant increase in bookings from both Italian and foreign travelers because indeed, they feel more secure in Italy now," said Robert Koren, a company vice president, in a statement.

While Spain is no stranger to violence, its last major terrorist attack was 12 years ago. The country enjoyed a bumper year for tourism last year, with a record 68 million visitors arriving to the nation as it became one of the main beneficiaries of the political unrest across the Mediterranean. And it looks on track to hit a new milestone this year, according to Madrid-based agency Exceltur, which sees Spain hitting a fresh high of 74 million tourists.

One of them is Hungarian Laszlo Ludas. The 43-year-old IT manager was on his sixth trip to Spain, stopping in Madrid to take in the Hieronymous Bosch exhibit at the Prado.

"I just love Spain -- the culture, the language," he said last week, sipping coffee as he waited in line. "It's true safety can't be guaranteed anywhere, but I don't worry about security here."

With assistance from Maria Ermakova, Mark Deen and Ainhoa Goyeneche

Source: Terror sends Europe's holidaymakers to safety of Spain, Portugal

Import scrap prices in Turkey move up

Information Provided By:

SteelOrbis Elektronik Pazaryeri A.Ş. ("SteelOrbis")19 Mayıs Mahallesi, Atatürk CaddesiŞeref Yazgan İş Merkezi, No: 72, Kat: 7, D: 18Kozyatağı – 34736Istanbul, Turkey

Trade Registration Number : 541892MERSİS Number : 0470048178400014Customer Relations Officer : Sinem AlpkayaTel : +90 216 468 10 50Fax : +90 216 386 41 08

This Information Form has been drawn up in order to provide information to the customer ("Customer") who seeks a free trial on an electronic environment for the purpose of benefiting from the services offered by the SteelOrbis website at "www.steelorbis.com" prior to acceptance of the Membership Contract, and it allows the Customer to gain clear information on the terms and conditions of the membership to be established as well as to review the text of the Contract in question.

The following successive steps shall be taken in order to establish a free trial:

- The Customer selects the "Free Trial" option on the home page at http://www.steelorbis.com.- The Customer provides all information requested in the "Free Trial Application" form displayed on the screen and confirms it.- SteelOrbis sends an account activation e-mail to the e-mail address of the Customer provided in the application form.- The Customer clicks on the activation link sent to his/her e-mail address and activates his/her account. The website Membership Contract is presented to the Customer during the account activation process.

Storage of the Membership Contract:

You can either save the Membership Contract on your computer or make print-outs of it for storage. The Membership Contract accepted and confirmed by the Customer is not kept by SteelOrbis. You can always get access to the standard Membership Contract displayed on the website. However, as amendments may be made to the standard Contract, it may include some variations in comparison with the text approved by you. Accordingly, it may not be possible for you to access on the website the text you originally approved.

Data entry errors:

The information you should provide for membership application and the fields you should fill in are indicated during each step of the operation. You are obliged to provide such information. If you leave the required fields blank, the system will issue a warning. Please fill in all necessary fields. Prior to the completion of the operation, all data entered by you in the previous step will be displayed once more. Please make sure that the information provided by you is accurate and complete before finally confirming the operation; any missing or incorrect information should be completed or corrected. Any amendment or correction on the information provided by you after the confirmation may be performed by means of website logins after the establishment of the membership.

Our confidentiality policy:

Please click here to review our confidentiality policy.

Source: Import scrap prices in Turkey move up

Turkey tourism faces daunting uphill climb

When TV cameras rolled on a military coup in Istanbul and Ankara on July 15, Intrepid Travel had seven groups on the ground in Turkey. Some guests were just finishing up their tours, and some continued on when the dust settled.

But a small number of clients decided to cut their vacations short, opting to leave the country as soon as arrangements would allow.

"For them, it was a personal decision about their safety," said Intrepid North American director Leigh Barnes. "They felt that with the coup taking place, in their personal opinion, they felt better that they were able to head home."

While the coup was quashed within a few hours, the reverberations of the incident continued late last week.

On July 18, the State Department updated its travel warning for Turkey, suggesting that U.S. citizens "reconsider travel to Turkey at this time," and three days later, president Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency to purge the military of collaborators in the uprising.

"Obviously, the short-term effects for people who want to travel to Turkey are not good," said Dan Richards, CEO of the travel risk-management company Global Rescue. "Any kind of central government instability, whether it be Turkey or anywhere else, makes travelers nervous, and for good reason, right? The security situation in Turkey, I think, in many people's minds, was tenuous to begin with, given the attacks on the airport and the history of terrorist activity in Turkey."

The failed coup was but the latest in a series of blows to Turkish tourism. Even before military tanks appeared on the streets of Ankara and Istanbul during the July coup, and a terrorist assault on Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on June 28 killed 42 people and left more than 200 wounded, tourism in Turkey had been devastated.

A series of terrorist attacks in the country over the last 18 months, including some targeting popular tourist attractions, has caused a significant drop in visitors to a destination that ranked sixth in the world for international arrivals in 2014, according to the World Travel Organization.

Year over year, the number of foreign visitors has been down every month of 2016, with the gaps growing. In January, visitation was down 6.4% from the same time in 2015, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported. In May, the last month data was available, it fell by nearly 35%.

As headlines pile up and security concerns mount, agents have grown wary of sending their clients to Turkey.

Petros Zissimos

"I've pretty much stopped selling Turkey for 2016," said Petros Zissimos, managing director of Hellenic Holidays. "Because I visit the country quite frequently, judging from what I saw, it's not an appropriate environment for U.S. travelers at this time."

Mina Agnos, president of Travelive, said she has been reluctant to tell clients it's safe.

"It's really hard to say," she said. Unlike the Arab Spring in Egypt, she said, "I think with Turkey it's a little different because it's not just political. You've got the mix of the political with the terrorist attacks, so in this case, I'm a little bit more hesitant to say, 'Yes, OK, great.'"

Citing safety concerns, some tour operators, including Globus and G Adventures, suspended their trips to Turkey even before the coup attempt and airport attack, but not all operators have left the country.

Paul Wiseman, president of Trafalgar USA, said the company had clients in Turkey during the coup and subsequent crackdown.

"We did, and we still do, and we have more going," Wiseman said. "We're going to continue operating as booked."

The reality on the ground, he stressed, is often more nuanced than what's on the evening news.

Paul Wiseman

"We instantly see on CNN that the entire country is in chaos because they have one 30-second film loop," Wiseman said. "With Trafalgar, we have a lot of people living in these destinations. We can get real-time, accurate information very easily. We will always modify an itinerary if we feel that there is any form of direct danger for our clients."

Intrepid tours are now skipping Ankara, where there have been multiple attacks.

Barnes said that Intrepid had six cancellations on a July 17 departure immediately following the coup, but he said he did not anticipate further cancellations. Bookings, however, have dropped by about 50% in 2016, he said.

"There's definitely a cumulative effect when a particular destination is in the news over and over again," Wiseman said. "Turkey has had multiple issues fairly close together, and those do accumulate, and it puts an enormous stress on demand for the destination."

Those who still book trips to Turkey are "a much hardier group of people," Wiseman said. "If you're booking the trip, you're doing it with eyes wide open."

Barnes described Intrepid's Turkey clients as "confident in making these decisions. They make up their own mind. They do a lot of their own research."

Marcia Miller, owner of You Go Girls!, which specializes in tours for women, is attending Ya'lla Tours' December fam trip to Turkey. "With a country like Turkey, where there's a lot of misunderstanding and questions about it, I think that as travel agents we really need to do our homework so we feel comfortable advising clients about that," she said. "I trust Ya'lla literally with my life and with the life of my clients."

History suggests that what it will take to lure visitors back to Turkey, and for its tourism sector to recover is stability.

According to research by the World Travel and Tourism Council, it takes two to 22 months for a destination to recover from an isolated terrorist incident and an average of 26.7 months to return to pre-crisis visitation after political unrest.

Turkey's ongoing issues could stretch that timeline even further, and any additional attacks or instability will only delay the recovery. But operators such as Intrepid aren't walking away.

Barnes said the company has a responsibility to support the places it visits through good times and bad.

"We'll have to make changes as things get harder or there are safety, stability or instability changes," he said. "But, fundamentally, one of our key pillars is purpose beyond profit, and that's supporting the destinations we do travel to."

Building tourism back to where it was in Turkey will take a lot of hard work, he added.

"It's about getting people back to the destination," he said. "It's about getting it out there through the media and getting people talking about it and getting people experiencing it and having a great time. It has the infrastructure in place and the proximity to Europe. I think that if there is stability in Turkey, the tourism numbers will bounce back."___

Jamie Biesiada contributed to this report.

Source: Turkey tourism faces daunting uphill climb

Turkey’s Role for the Tanker Market

 Even though the coup attempt in Turkey  failed and the transportation situation normalized quickly thereafter, Poten & Partners take a look at the importance of Turkey tothe tanker market.

Turkey is not a large oil or gas producer; according to JODI its crude oil production amounts to about 48 thousand barrels per day (Kb/d) of crude oil and almost 400 million m3 of natural gas in 2015. 

The country's oil consumption averaged about 927 Kb/d in 2015, about 1% of the global consumption.

Neither of these statistics would make the country an important energy market player. However, the importance of Turkey to the energy market is related to its geographical location; the country is a major transfer hub for oil and gas.

 Two major oil pipelines run through the country: The BakuTbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline with a capacity of about 1.2 Mb/d connects the Caspian oil fields to the Mediterranean and the 1.5 Mb/d Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, which is the main outlet for crude oil from Northern Iraq.

The IEA estimates that the BTC pipeline carries about 0.6 Mb/d of crude oil, mainly from Azerbaijan. In 2015, the pipeline has also been used for small volumes of exports from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. 

The Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline is the main export route for Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. In recent months, crude flows through the pipeline amounted to about 0.5 million barrels per day but have fluctuated over the last year due to pipeline damage resulting from the battles with ISIS and as a result of disagreements between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan government over the sharing of the revenue of crude oil sales.

According to Lloyd's Apex tanker trade data, about 85% of the Iraqi exports through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline remain in the Med. About 70% of these exports use Suezmax tonnage and almost all of the remaining exports are on Aframax tonnage. 

Exports from the BTC pipeline are more diverse: During the first half of 2016, about 56% stayed in the Med, 17% headed to the rest of Europe and North America, and 26% was exported to Asia. In recent years, Azerbaijan has increased their export focus on Asian destinations; the main Asian buyers include Taiwan, Indonesia, India and Thailand.

Exports to Asia are mainly performed on Suezmax tonnage, but more recently, VLCCs have increased their market share as Taiwan is using more VLCCs.

The Turkish Straits are another important oil export route passing through Turkey. Tanker transits through the Bosporus were briefly interrupted last weekend when the coup attempt was going on, but reopened relatively quickly. 

In 2015, about 80 million tons (about 1.6 Mb/d) of oil passed through the Bosporus. During the first half of 2016, about 70% of the total transits were destined for the Med, and 16% for the remainder of Europe.

About 10% or 150 Kb/d is shipped to Asia. Due to its location in the Mediterranean, Turkey has been an important maritime nation for millennia. Several tanker owners are domiciled in Turkey and the country has about 15 shipyards. The tanker orderbook at these yards consists predominantly of smaller specialized tankers.

As the above illustrates, Turkey is an important country for the tanker market. Let's hope that the political upheaval in the country calms down and that the country manages to remain peaceful, as the consequences for the tanker market could be significant if transit routes were to close temporarily.

Source: Turkey's Role for the Tanker Market

SAS troops poised to EVACUATE Britons from Turkey amid fear of SECOND military coup

GETTY

Rebels tried to overthrow Turkish president president Recep Tayyip Erdo?an

With fears rebels could be about to try to overthrow the government for a second time, which is likely to result in a Turkish civil war, troops have moved into neighbouring Cyprus and are preparing a rescue mission to save stranded Britons.

Defence chiefs have drawn up emergency plans and fully armed soldiers, together with members of the Special Forces Support Group, are ready to fly into areas popular with tourists and help families get home safely. 

Hundreds of jets, helicopters and other aircraft will be drafted in to help the estimated 50,000 Brits flee the danger. 

GETTY

There a fears of a second military coup

The troops will be cleared to open fire if local rebels threaten to intervene. 

One senior defence source told the Daily Star Sunday: "Turkey is on the brink. If there is another coup attempt then civil war will follow. If that happens there will be a major international crisis.

"Every country with nationals living in or on holiday in Turkey will be attempting to rescue them and we intend to be ahead of the game."

Hundreds of civilians were killed since an attempt to overthrow the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, was launched a week ago.

GETTY

Some Britons are still travelling to Turkish tourism spots, like Antalya

Airlines refused to fly in and out of the country during the coup as city centres went onto lockdown.

British diplomats fear Turkey, which borders Iraq, Iran and Syria, is now so unstable further bloodshed is inevitable.

Some British tourists might be able to leave using holiday airlines but the Government fears that if civil war breaks out in Turkey, thousands could be trapped in the panic to escape, so the extra measures have been brought in. 

The rescue operation would be based out of Cyprus' RAF Akrotiri, less than 100 miles from Turkey, but Royal Navy warships already in the Mediterranean could be called into action if Prime Minister Theresa May gives the order. 

British troops will establish "secure zones" inside Turkey and at airports to aid the airlift. 

The SAS has conducted evacuation operations before, most recently in Lebanon, but nothing on this scale.

GETTY

Troops are getting ready to swoop in and rescue Britons from Turkey

Some Britons have already cut short their holidays after President Erdogan began rounding up thousands of people allegedly linked to the coup.

But others have decided to stick with their plans after their holiday companies refused to give them a refund. 

Britons on holiday in Turkey have reported quieter than normal hotels and half empty beaches as terrified travellers avoid the once popular destination. 

Related articles
Source: SAS troops poised to EVACUATE Britons from Turkey amid fear of SECOND military coup

Send your teen to Turkey? You bet (Column)

For the past eight years, Terry Mohr of Milwaukie has shepherded exchange students to and from Turkey for Rotary International District 5100.

Turkey is the only majority-Muslim country in the exchange pool for the District, which represents the service club in parts of Oregon and Washington.

It's an important exchange, Terry said, because of "the incredible misconceptions we have about the average Muslim."

But increasingly, it's a potentially dangerous one, too.

Last month, Islamic State terrorists killed more than 40 people at Istanbul's airport. And just last week, at least 270 people were killed when a faction of the military attempted a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

For the first time under Terry's watch, a student selected for a Turkish exchange this year won't be going because her parents objected.

"They couldn't get past it," Terry said. "They were very concerned about the stereotype."

The district's lone student headed to Turkey this fall will be 17-year-old Amy Renzema. She's being sponsored by the Rotary Club of Forest Grove, of which I am a member.

As Amy's destination country was announced at a recent club awards dinner, an audible gasp echoed across the banquet hall.

Club members were concerned.

"When I say I'm going to Turkey, people think I'm going to be living on the Syrian border in a mud hut and I'm going to wear the long black robes and a hijab on my head," Amy said. "And that's totally not it. They don't even really have mud huts on the Syrian border."

Amy will live with a rotation of families in Izmir, one of the most liberal Turkish cities on the western Mediterranean coast. In the city of about 3 million residents, you're more like to see women sunbathing in bikinis than walking in burqas. Many residents are Muslim in the same sense as Christians who go to church once a year on Christmas.

It's about as far as you can get from the Syrian border, but there are still concerns.

Turkey faces threats from two different militant groups: Kurdish fighters and the Islamic State. In the past year, there have been at least 14 major terrorist attacks in the country.

Added to the mix, the military coup arose from concerns that the current president is a threat to free speech and secularism. The Turkish military has staged four successful coups since 1960, each time in the name of protecting democracy and limiting Islamic influence on government.

The average American – and Amy's mom Kristin put herself in this camp until recently – knows little about Turkey's democratic history. Talking with Terry and Amy has put many of her fears at ease. She's still worried, as any parent of an exchange student would be, but she's at peace.

"We could 'what if' ourselves right out the program, and instead of living with fear we'd live with regret, which I think is far worse," Kristin said.

It's a volatile time for all of Europe. Brussels and Paris have been struck by deadly terrorist attacks. Most recently, a man killed 80 people in Nice, France after ramming a box truck through crowds gathered for a fireworks display.

Exchange students are still headed to these countries.

The funny thing is, Terry says parents who send children to the United States are often the most fearful.

During a Rotary event earlier this year, Amy met an exchange student from Slovakia. The girl wasn't worried about living in the United States, "but her parents were absolutely terrified because they thought she would be shot in school," Amy said.

Amy wonders what perceptions her Turkish schoolmates will have of her. Will they expect her to be dumb? To be overweight?

Amy Renzema, 17, and her mother Kristin Renzema, are preparing for Amy's upcoming student exchange year in Izmir, Turkey. (Samantha Swindler/Staff) Samantha Swindler | The Oregonian/OregonLive

"I'm interested in going over there during our election process and seeing how they think of me," Amy said. "It's fairly close to home for them, Donald Trump and the whole Muslim thing... The way media is in Turkey, maybe they think all Americans are Donald Trump supporters."

As I've watched our own political theater play out this week, I too have wondered what the Turkish exchange parents think of us.

Are they worried about sending their Muslim child to America this fall? Do they fear their child will encounter an aggressive American police officer?

Are they researching beyond the headlines?

Terry has spent years reassuring nervous parents, and he takes a pragmatic approach to his work. He's overseen American students in the Philippines and Thailand as those countries faced military coups (one successful, one not). Each time the students were fine.

He's also placed students in India and Taiwan. He says he's drawn to working with the "tough" countries where the cultural differences are great.

"It opens their eyes," Terry said. "Most of (the students) come back and all they want to do is travel. It opens their eyes to the world."

If there ever were a time for exchange students it's now, in the face of growing xenophobia and isolationism. It's time to leave our comfort zones and question our assumptions about other cultures.

That's exactly why Amy doesn't want an "easy" country. She wants to be challenged.

And if Turkey does become unstable, to the point where the Rotarians in Izmir have concerns, Amy has a backup country.

Russia.

--- Samantha Swindler

@editorswindler / 503-294-4031

sswindler@oregonian.com

Source: Send your teen to Turkey? You bet (Column)

Tourists urged to take advice after Turkish bloodbath

A military coup attempt plunged Turkey into violence on July 16 in Istanbul Picture: deepspace/Shutterstock.com

FOLLOWING the failed coup attempt in Turkey last week it appears to be 'business as usual' for tourists travelling from Fermanagh to the popular destination. Last weekend a faction of the military tried to overthrow the government there. Some 265 people were killed in clashes between soldiers involved in the coup and supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. More than 6,000 people including soldiers and judges have been arrested in what is being described by officials as a 'clean up operation'. The situation in appears to be calming according to Enniskillen Travel Agent, Richard Cooper, of  Carefree Travel. Mr Cooper explained that his office in Townhall Street has had a high number of calls in relation to clients going to Turkey this summer. "Naturally they have been worried by the situation there recently, but things seem to be settling there now," he said.  "Last weekend for the following 48 hours after the attempted coup tour operators did allow people to change or cancel their flights, but now all the operators have been advised that following reports from their resort managers that everything is back to normal." However, people visiting Turkey are advised to still avoid public places in Ankara and Istanbul, particularly demonstrations. But coastal resorts do not appear to be affected at present, according to Mr Cooper. "Resorts in the south of Turkey seem to be OK at the minute and are unaffected by the trouble in the country," he said.  "They are just operating as normal at the moment, but have advised tourists to keep up to date with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office who will advise people whether to travel or not. "If permission to travel was withdrawn tour operators would have to cancel flights and give a full refund and that applies to flights from Dublin also," said Mr Cooper. "When there is a government warning not to travel it normally affects flights from Belfast and Dublin who work closely and deal with many of the same tour operators.  "Everyone thinking of travelling to Turkey will be keeping an eye out and watching the government in the UK. If the situation deteriorated they would have to review the situation, but at the moment they're not doing that, but people still need to keep an eye on it," he added. Carefree Travel receives daily information with regard to the situation there and all of their sources are saying that at the moment it's 'business as usual' until the government says otherwise. Posted: 1:09 pm July 23, 2016
Source: Tourists urged to take advice after Turkish bloodbath

Will Turkey’s President Be Able To Normalize Relations With Russia? – Analysis

By Himani Pant

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan now appears to be working towards reformulating his country's foreign policy towards breaking what seems to be growing distance from its neighbours and friends. The recent failed coup has brought to the fore some tensions in its domestic policy. However, President Erdogan had begun reformulating his foreign policy earlier, trying to mend ties with both Russia and Israel.

Russia-Turkey relations had suffered a major blow in November last year when the latter shot down an SU-24, claiming that the fighter jet had entered its air space in spite of several warnings. Denying Turkish allegations, Russian President Vladimir Putin dubbed the entire episode as "a stab in the back" and a "huge mistake".

As a retaliatory measure, Russia imposed sanctions on Turkey. Broadly, they included restrictions on imports of Turkish food (mainly imports of agricultural products, vegetables, and fruits), a ban on tourism to Turkey, and suspension of visa free travel. The sanctions also targeted charter air travel between the two countries and restricted the hiring of Turkish nationals in Russia. On the energy front, talks on the ambitious Turkish stream pipeline [1] were suspended. [i]

After indulging in a heated exchange of "war of words" for about six months, President Erdoğan initiated a reconciliatory move by sending a letter of regret over the shooting of the Russian jet to the Russian president. In the letter, he referred to Russia as "a friend and a strategic partner" with whom the Turkey would not want to spoil relations. [ii] He also expressed his sympathy and condolences to the family of the Russian pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov, whose death (while attempting to escape) had incensed Moscow even more than the downing of the plane. According to reports, Turkey has now also committed to initiating a criminal probe into the suspected "killer" (Turkish nationalist Alparslan Celik had claimed responsibility for the shooting) of the Russian pilot — another of Russia's preconditions for reconciliation. If Erdoğan's roundabout expression of condolences to the family of the pilot is considered, adequate by the Kremlin, then the only pre-condition unfulfilled will be the payment of compensation for the fighter jet and to the family of the pilot.

President Erdoğan's gesture was significant and yielded the results it intended. A telephone conversation soon followed with Vladimir Putin and Erdoğan, reiterating their commitment to reinvigorating bilateral relations and fight terrorism jointly. (The commitment is significant at a time when terrorist attacks shook the Ataturk airport in Turkey). More significantly, the sanctions on Turkey are now lifted, initiating "the process of normalising general trade and economic ties." In fact, the Turkish lira showed positive developments (2.9330 from 2.9430 against the USD) almost immediately after Kremlin announced removal of sanctions on Turkey. [iii]

The rapprochement is good news for both sides, given the economic interdependence both the countries share. Energy sector forms the basis of Russo-Turkish relations; hence, the suspension of negotiations on the Turkish stream pipeline was a huge setback for both. Following the Putin-Erdoğan conversation, talks on the pipeline are set to resume with Russian energy giant Gazprom declaring its willingness to hold dialogue with Ankara.

Though there still remains uncertainty over the lifting of sanctions on agricultural goods [2], the suspension of sanctions on tourism is a huge respite for Turkey, since it had been among the top destinations for Russian tourists until November last year. Tourism contributes about 6.2 percent to the overall economic output and accounts for 8 percent of employment in Turkey. In the aftermath of the sanctions, the booming tourism industry was adversely affected by a sharp drop in Russian visitors. According to Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Russian tourism to Turkey fell by almost 92% in the past six months. [iv]

At a time when the Russian economy is in a crisis, the resumption of trade is good for Russia as well. The ban on agricultural produce particularly proved to be quite painful for the country, given the Ukraine related counter-sanctions it imposed on European agricultural produce. However, on the positive side, the restrictions have led to the revival of Russia's own agricultural production, even if not adequately enough to overcome shortages caused by sanctions.

Moreover, as the country prepares to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the removal of sanctions on Turkish business activities bodes well for Russia, given that the work of Turkish construction companies is crucial in developing the infrastructure for the event.

Meanwhile, Turkey has also reached a normalisation agreement with Israel, putting an end to the six-year-old rift that emerged after Israel's Navy killed ten pro-Palestinian Turkish citizens, part of a flotilla that sailed to Gaza in 2010. Speculation is rife that President Erdoğan may initiate rapprochement with Egypt too. (Turkey-Egypt relations soured in 2013 after the elected President Mohamed Morsi was ousted in an army coup led by Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi).

President Erdoğan's moves could be interpreted as a clever diplomatic manoeuvring. Analyst Roy Challands of Al Zajeera suggests that "the benefits of normalising relations with Russia outweighs the humiliation of saying sorry". [v] The Turkish president is aware that cordial ties with Moscow are crucial at a time when the influence of the United States in the Middle East is coming down.

Moreover, Turkey's relationship with Europe is not going as intended, because of the disagreements over the Mediterranean crisis. At such a juncture, it is crucial for Turkey not to remain isolated from Moscow, which is emerging as a major player in the Middle East. Moreover, Russian airstrikes in Syria were the major cause of displeasure in Turkey. Given that Russia has withdrawn its "major forces" from Syria, this appears to be a well-timed decision by President Erdoğan.

Overall, it appears as if President Erdoğan is working towards a reformulation of his foreign policy, especially its relations with Russia. However, whether the recent failed coup will have any negative impact on the furthering of the bilateral relations remains to be seen.

Footnotes: [1] Russian energy giant Gazprom and Turkey's Botas signed a memorandum of understanding to construct the pipeline in 2014. The pipeline aims to deliver Russian natural gas to Turkey via the Black Sea, further extending to Southern Europe.

[2] As the supply of agricultural goods to Russia interrupted post the introduction of Ukraine and Turkey related sanctions, the country was forced to produce domestically. Sudden lifting of embargo on agricultural produce at this juncture could adversely affect the farmers.

References: [i] http://www.orfonline.org/research/strained-russia-turkey-relations-unlikely-to-ease-in-the-near-future/

[ii] http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/52295

[iii] http://in.reuters.com/article/turkey-israel-russia-idINKCN0ZD2BK

[iv] https://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN,162406/number-of-arriving-departing-visitors-foreigners-and-ci-.html

[v] http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/turkey-erdogan-russian-jet-160627131324044.html

TOPICS:Foreign PolicyMilitaryRussiaTurkey
Source: Will Turkey's President Be Able To Normalize Relations With Russia? – Analysis