- Travel Advice
DFAT advice for Turkey
When travelling to Turkey, you should always get travel insurance in case the worst happens. To help you ensure you travel safely, we have included the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Turkey.
| Turkey overall | This Advice is current for Thursday, 28 August 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Borders with Syria, Iraq and Iran | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
[top]Summary
- We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Turkey because of the high threat of terrorist attack. International and domestic terrorist groups have recently staged attacks.
- Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
- Terrorist attacks can occur anywhere at any time in Turkey. Foreigners have been killed and injured. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets. See Safety and Security: Terrorism for a list of possible targets.
- The tourist season during Turkey's spring and summer months has traditionally been marked by increased terrorist attacks. A domestic terrorist group made a public statement in March 2008, similar to ones issued in past years, that it would attack "Turkish tourist sites". Potential targets include tourist destinations in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions and foreign interests in Turkey.
- Recent credible reports suggest terrorists are planning attacks in response to Turkish military action against terrorists and their bases in northern Iraq.
- You should avoid any large gatherings and demonstrations as they may turn violent. In the past, violent demonstrations have resulted in deaths and injuries.
- We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to provinces in the southeast of Turkey, including those in the border region between Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran, due to the unpredictable security situation. If you do decide to travel to these areas, you should exercise extreme caution.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed human deaths from avian influenza in Turkey. See the Health Issues section below for advice to Australians travelling to or resident in Turkey.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
