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First Moldovan tourists will fly to Antalya by charter flight on July 4


https://www.ipn.md/en/first-moldovan-tourists-will-fly-to-antalya-by-charter-flight-7967_1074533.html

The COVID-19 pandemic made many tourists to cancel the trips scheduled for this summer. Others do not hesitate to make reservations for the immediate period as the tour operators have attractive offers. Turkey will welcome Moldovan tourists from from July, but a series of rules must be obeyed. Greece will also accept tourists from next month, but these will be able to reach the seaside by road only and after filling out a form showing the exact destination. Ukraine and Romania keep the 14-day self-isolation regime for those who enter them. The Moldovan tourists cannot yet reach the seaside in Bulgaria, at least until July 15.

Contacted by IPN for details, Viorica Cașu, director of a tourism agency that provides charter flights to Turkey, said that regular flights to Istanbul will become available as of July 1. A charter flight to Antalya will be operated on July 4. This year, owing to the pandemic, a number of rules that are compulsory for tourists were imposed. On the plane, each passenger must wear a mask and gloves. When at the airport in Antalya, the tourists will be able to buy health insurance for COVID-19, which costs about €24 for seven days. It is not yet known what this will contain, but it will cover the costs for two tests and of stationary treatment. The insurance could be probably bought in Moldova too.

Before going through passport control, the tourists will have their body temperature measured. If the temperature is higher than 37.7 degrees, the person will be isolated and will have a test for COVID-19. If the presence of the virus is confirmed, the person will be taken to the hospital. This will be allowed to stay at the hotel only in case of mild symptoms. In hotels, there will be special isolation areas.

Only the window seats will be occupied in buses that will transport tourists from the airport to the hotel. Before entering the hotel, the luggage will be disinfected. Each hotel will ensure check-in in the open air, within possibilities. In the case of restaurants, swimming pools and beaches, social distancing will be ensured between chairs or lounge chairs. Programing beforehand will be needed for leaving the child at mini-clubs, for going to gyms and spa. After check-out, no one will be accommodated in the room for at least 12 hours so that thorough disinfection could be performed.

Even if a part of the tourists reprogrammed the trips planned until March 17 for next year or cancelled them, there are also new reservations and this is a possibility for tour operators to reinvigorate themselves after the halt caused by the pandemic.

Viorica Cașu noted the prices for trips decreased in the created situation. The hotels have very good offers. For example, a package that includes plane ticket, transfer, insurance, accommodation for seven nights at a four-star all-inclusive hotel situated at a distance of 50 meters from the beach costs €275 per person and up.

When returning home, the Moldovan tourists must self-isolate for 14 days. The authorities are examining the possibility of removing this obligation as from July 15, when the state of public health emergency expires.