Turkey Post Earthquake: Is Travel Safe? Will Tourism Be Disrupted?

Turkey Post Earthquake: Is Travel Safe? Will Tourism Be Disrupted?

Middle East, Natural Disasters, Safety & Security, Travel News — on October 26, 2011 2:01 pm

Turkey Post Earthquake: Is Travel Safe? Will Tourism Be Disrupted?

Sunday’s 7.2 magnitude quake in Eastern Turkey has already killed hundreds and the search for survivors continues.

The 7.2 quake is the largest to hit Turkey since 1999’s 7.6 killer. In fact, many are blaming Turkey’s poor planning in Ercis and Van (both affected by Sunday’s disaster) for the collapse of over 80 buildings.

“When we look at the wreckage, we see how the material used is of bad quality,” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated. ”We see that people pay the price for concrete that virtually turned to sand, or for weakened concrete blocks on the ground floors. Municipalities, constructors and supervisors should now see that their negligence amounts to murder.”

And with over 100 aftershocks (including one with a magnitude of 6.0) recorded by U.S. scientists, the death toll continues to rise. Naturally the question presents itself: How will Turkey’s earthquake affect tourism?

With Turkey estimated to earn $21 billion in tourism this year, many tourism professionals believe Sunday’s earthquake won’t detract from the bustling charm of Turkey. Of the areas affected, the region that felt the brunt of the impact is not a popular destination. Instead, Turkish tourism centers around Istanbul or the Mediterranean beach towns.

With the epicenter 1,550 miles away from the populated city of Istanbul (that’s a 28-hour drive) tourists and business travelers alike prefer the major city. Istanbul’s major attractions include: the Grand Bazaar (a perfect spot for serious shoppers to peruse the over 5,500 vendors), the sacred building Haghia Sophia (once an Ottoman mosque and now a Turkish museum), the walls of Constantinople (the largest Byzantine structure that survives in modern Istanbul), and the Princes’ Islands (home to many non-Muslim elite).

If you are looking to donate to disaster relief efforts, consider the Turkish Red Crescent’s disaster fund, the largest humanitarian organization in Turkey.

For more information, check out:

Our Travel Spotlight, “Off The Brochure: Istanbul, Turkey “

our Natural Disasters Section

our Voluntourism Resources and Recommendations

Related links: Fox News, CNN, Los Angeles Times, Yahoo News, IBT

By Tatiana Rodriguez for PeterGreenberg.com

Feature Image Credit: BigStock

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