COVID-19 Pandemic, 40 Thousand Indonesian Tourists Vacation In Turkey

Turkish illustration. (Unsplash / @ gozlukluf)

JAKARTA - The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia has asked all Indonesian tourists visiting Turkey to equip themselves with travel insurance.

Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Lalu Muhamad Iqbal said it was important for tourists to have insurance, in order to provide maximum protection for Indonesian tourists while on vacation in Turkey.

"Our advice is to make sure you have travel insurance. Because many Indonesian tourists visiting Turkey are not provided with travel insurance," he explained in a virtual press conference, Monday, April 5.

In addition to travel insurance, Indonesian Ambassador Lalu Muhamad Iqbal said tourists can also equip themselves with special COVID-19 insurance. So, if you are exposed to COVID-19 while on vacation to Turkey, you can get maximum treatment.

"The insurance can be purchased online or upon arrival in Turkey. Turkey is currently fully open to foreign tourists. The offer of tour packages has been opened," he explained.

He further explained, throughout 2020, as many as 13 million tourists came to Turkey. Of these, 9.5 million of them arrived after March 2020 or when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

"Of the number of foreign tourists, as many as 40 thousand tourists come from Indonesia," he said.

Regarding the accident of a group of 23 Indonesian tourists after visiting the ski resort in Kayseri, two tourists who were previously still being treated were released yesterday from the hospital.

"The last two people who needed treatment yesterday were allowed to leave the hospital. Insha Allah, this week they will return to Indonesia," he concluded.