The Foreign Office continues to warn travellers from the UK
Turkey is a popular holiday destination(Image: Alexander Spatari via Getty Images)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) continues to issue warnings to travellers heading for Turkey following multiple deaths among UK tourists. The FCDO provides regular travel guidance for approximately 226 nations and territories across the globe.
FCDO bulletins contain information on safety and security matters, regional hazards, health considerations, and additional concerns. The guidance highlights a popular holiday pursuit that has led to fatalities and severe injuries, with the Foreign Office stating: “Paragliding is an extreme sport and carries the risk of serious injury or death.
“British nationals have died or been seriously injured while paragliding in Turkey. Ensure you receive full instructions and training before your activity.
“If you are near where paragliding activities take place, be aware that the landing area may be in a public area. Maintain a reasonable distance from potential landing zones for your personal safety.”
Turkey remains a preferred getaway destination for UK tourists, and current recommendations include buying alcoholic drinks only from licensed shops, pubs and hotels, avoiding homemade spirits, verifying bottle seals remain intact, and checking labels for inferior quality or misspellings. Travellers should also seek immediate medical attention if they or their companions become ill after drinking alcohol.
FCDO guidance reads: “There has been an increase in cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in popular travel destinations around the world. In Turkey, including Ankara and Istanbul, people have died or suffered serious illness after drinking illegally produced local spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol.
“Even small amounts of methanol can kill. It is not possible to identify methanol in alcoholic drinks by taste or smell. Seek urgent medical attention if you or someone you are travelling with show the signs of methanol poisoning after drinking.”
