Turkey, Germany in talks over new tourism season

ANKARA

Turkey and Germany have been engaged in talks for cooperation in the field of tourism for the coming season as the former says Turkish resorts are the safest destinations for European tourists as the country has taken the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic under control.

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu held a phone conversation with his German counterpart Heiko Maas on May 19 to discuss tourism as well as bilateral relations and Turkey-EU ties, according to Anadolu Agency. The foreign ministers’ dialogue follows a phone conversation between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week.

“Everybody in Germany underlines Turkey as the securest touristic destination this year,” Çavuşoğlu told a local TV in an interview late May 18. Stressing that he is in talks with his counterparts from the countries where Turkey traditionally attracts tourists, including Russia and Germany, Çavuşoğlu stressed the importance of the continued flow of tourists to the Turkish resorts for the local and national economy.

“Germany has to open airports,” he said, adding, “Turkey should not be excluded at a time when the EU is discussing what can be done [for tourism].”

The Turkish foreign minister’s remarks come amid reports that EU countries are working on a plan to encourage its citizens to spend their summer holidays within the EU boundaries in order to avoid the 14-day quarantine rule upon their return.

“We perfectly know how tourism is important as a source of income for our country,” the minister said, describing the ongoing crisis as the biggest one since the Second World War.  Turkey hosted more than 50 million tourists and generated around $34 billion income in the year of 2019. Russia sent more than 6 million and Germany more than 5 million tourists in the past year.

Çavuşoğlu said he was in constant dialogue and cooperation with Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy to lure the maximum number of tourists.

Turkish, US top diplomats speak by phone

In the meantime, Çavuşoğlu held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on May 18 on cooperation between Washington and Ankara against the coronavirus pandemic.

“Pleasure speaking with Turkish Foreign Minister @MevlutCavusoglu today about U.S.-Turkey cooperation to counter COVID-19,” Pompeo tweeted. “We will continue to bring Turkish and U.S. citizens to their home countries, cooperating on supply chain issues and @NATO Alliance efforts,” he wrote. The phone conversation came days after Turkey sent two planes of medical gear to help the U.S. combat the disease and the latest flights to repatriate their citizens.

Turkey helped 81 countries amid outbreak

A total of 135 countries sought assistance from Turkey as the coronavirus rapidly spread around the globe, Çavuşoğlu said on May 18.  Turkish authorities dispatched aid and medical equipment to 81 countries, he said in a live broadcast. He added they were working to assist the remaining countries.

Çavuşoğlu said the virus claimed the lives of 535 expats, and the bodies of 438 were brought home for burial. Moreover, around 70,000 Turkish citizens were evacuated from 115 countries amid the pandemic.