Skiing / 02.03.2024

Is it dangerous to holiday in Spain now? We need to rest at home: vacation makes our lives shorter and deprives us of immunity. Sanitary situation and medical care in the country

On Thursday, August 17, a van rammed a crowd of pedestrians on La Rambla in the heart of Barcelona. Soon, a similar attack occurred in another Spanish city - Cambrils. According to the latest data, as a result of the incident, 14 people died. More than 100 more (one Russian citizen) were injured. The Village found out how the incident affected tourists already in Spain and whether it is now dangerous to vacation there.

How residents and tourists reacted to the terrorist attacks

To find out what was happening in Catalonia when the attacks became known, we turned to tourists and local residents there.

Olga Lukinskaya

Wonderzine editor,

lives in Barcelona

Such a terrorist attack can hardly be prevented, but you should have seen how well all city services worked yesterday.

We approached the Rambla from the opposite end, at the Columbus Monument, about 10 minutes after the terrorist attack - and the Rambla was already evacuated, tied with ribbons and surrounded by police. I have never seen so many police cars in Barcelona before. A helicopter immediately appeared, there were many secret police cars - they look like unremarkable cars, but they drive with a siren.

All transport in Barcelona was free, including taxis. Hotels invited people who could not get home or to their hotel for free. My friends wrote on Facebook that they were ready to feed and put a couple of people to bed. We all felt and feel together, because this is a city where everyone loves and supports everyone.

Tatyana Simakova

editor-in-chief of The Village,

in Barcelona on vacation

We were on the beach when it all happened. Very quickly, all the people near us grabbed their phones and started reading the news, but I can’t say that panic began. Many, especially locals, remained where they were. Perhaps because there was simply nowhere to go.

After the incident, several streets in the city were blocked and some metro stations did not work, but all transport and taxis could be used for free. True, this did not help us much, since it was impossible to get to the place we needed. I had to get there on foot.

What surprised me was that the police behaved very competently and separated the flow of people without any panic. The employees were very polite and collected - I have never seen such police officers.

What's happening in Spain now?

After the double terrorist attack, three days of mourning were declared in Spain. The terrorist organization “Islamic State,” banned in Russia, took responsibility for the incident. At the moment, about 100 victims from 34 countries remain in hospitals, including 15 people in serious condition. There is a hotline at +34932142124. Security measures have been strengthened in the country, but this has had almost no effect on everyday life, including the lives of almost 100 thousand Russian vacationers.

Olga Lukinskaya

Wonderzine editor,

lives in Barcelona

Everyone is sad, but life goes on. Everything is operating as usual, except for some establishments right on the Rambla. In principle, this is a typical situation for August, when half of the restaurants and shops are closed for the holidays. The fences on the street itself have already been removed.

In the afternoon there was a minute of silence in Plaza Catalunya. Many people came, including the king and prime minister of Spain. Some stores have added black ribbon directly to their signs. Memorials with flowers, candles, and toys appeared.

From time to time on the street people applaud and shout “No tinc por!”, that is, “I’m not afraid!” The residents have a very strong sense of unity: everyone is ready to help, volunteers go to hospitals as translators.

I don’t think people will change their tickets and fly away.

Tatyana Simakova

editor-in-chief of The Village,

in Barcelona on vacation

Some shops were closed, but now everyone is back to work. I understand that locals went to Plaza Catalunya to express their solidarity. People have a lot of emotions: after a minute of silence, they began to clap their hands together.

As for special operations, they take place unnoticed by others. The police are present in crowded places, but I cannot say that the city is paralyzed.

Is it worth giving up travel?

Despite the increased level of danger, Spain was not officially closed to tourists. Rostourism provides only recommendations for those going on vacation: they are asked to leave their contact information to travel companies in case of emergency, observe personal safety measures, avoid crowded places and follow the instructions of the authorities.

Olga Lukinskaya

Wonderzine editor,

lives in Barcelona

Tourists, I think, can be recommended to spend the day in museums or go to the beach and have fun more moderately, respecting the mourning declared in the country. Also, do not be afraid to contact the police if you have any suspicions. They are nice and attentive.

The Association of Tour Operators of Russia emphasized that there is no talk of mass cancellation of tours. Market participants admit only a slight decrease in demand, which is also due to the end of the summer season.

Representatives from Aviasales told The Village that the number of searches for flights from Russia to Spain decreased yesterday by 3% compared to last Thursday and by 12% compared to the previous day. The number of bookings to Barcelona remained unchanged compared to last Thursday and fell by 14% compared to the previous day. At the same time, the number of tickets purchased on the website from Spain back to Russia increased by 13% compared to last Thursday and by 56% compared to the previous day.

Sravni.ru noted that Russians usually plan their vacation in advance - a month and a half in advance, so not many then change their plans in connection with events in the country.

OneTwoTrip confirmed that the situation with searching and booking hotels and tickets, as well as with exchanges and refunds, is within normal limits.

Is it dangerous to travel to Turkey in 2019? Terrorist attacks, an unstable political situation, the recent murder of the Russian ambassador - what is the likelihood of various incidents and disasters during the summer holidays on the Turkish coast?

The security situation for tourists in Turkey in 2019 remains tense - terrorist attacks occur here almost every month. Considering that these are real explosions with deaths, the Russians’ fears really have a basis in reality.

Because of Syria, the situation has become tense this year - ISIS representatives are angry at Russia for the bombing, and the battle zone from Antalya to Damascus is only 600 kilometers away.

The Turks themselves are not radical Muslims. In fact, they immediately treat Russians much better than their fellow citizens - immigrants from the Caucasus in Sochi or Anapa. However, Turkey borders Iran, Iraq and Syria, where there are a lot of radical movements. In Syria, the radicals have taken a beating, but there is still a real war going on there.

Due to its location, Turkey has become a transit point for militants heading to ISIS (an organization banned in the Russian Federation). The borders are heavily guarded, but some militants still manage to infiltrate.

Considering that everyone’s favorite president went to Syria to prevent the construction of a gas pipeline in the EU fight the Islamic State, then many radical Muslims who receive tons of bombs on their heads may naturally be motivated to take revenge. And the bomb is stupid. It kills not only militants, but also civilians. Therefore, some non-radical Syrian dad, who lost his family due to a Russian airstrike and was distraught with grief, may well want to hit the happy vacationers whose taxes were used to kill his family.

However, the intelligence services have done a good job in recent years. And the terrorists got it too - their organization was very battered, so there are fewer and fewer rumors about recruitment through Turkey.

These are all terrible, unlikely “scarecrows”, and now the real situation with terrorist attacks over the past year.

Terrorist attacks in Turkey 2016-2019

So, the latest fatal terrorist attacks on Turkish soil in 12 months. The timeline includes bombings against civilians as well as police and military personnel.

date	Place	Killed/Injured
	Istanbul, night club.

	Istanbul, Vodafone Arena.

	Diyarbakir
	Shemdinli
	Van city


	Gaziantep
	Elazig and Van







	Istanbul, Attaturk Airport.



	Dargechit

	Sarykamysh

	Gaziantip


	Diyarbakir


	Nusaybin




	Diyarbakir
12.10.2016	Istanbul	10 / 15

2.01.2018	Ankara	0 / 2
24.04.2018	Sirnak	1/0
4.10.2018	Batman	7/0

In total, 421 people died in Turkey in 2016 - a colossal figure.However, most of them are military and police.The bulk of the explosion occurred in the southern regions, where there are almost no tourists.

In 2017-2018, everything was relatively calm, except for the explosion in a nightclub in Istanbul, which claimed almost 40 lives and a bomb at the tax office. Almost all the explosions occurred in winter, and were directed not against Russians, but against locals.

In 2019, there have been no terrorist attacks in Turkey yet, but there have been major arrests of IS people.

Who carries out terrorist attacks in Turkey?

The Kurdistan Workers' Party largely takes responsibility for the terrorist attacks in Turkey. According to Channel One, they would probably be called “militias fighting against the punitive Nazis.” By the way, in 1998, Russia planned to provide political asylum to their leader, and has still not recognized the activities of the PKK as extremist (although even Azerbaijan and Moldova joined the agreement).

Almost 90% of the explosions in Turkey are carried out by Kurds from this organization - they are seeking the creation of an independent state in the southeast (!) of Turkey. These terrorist killers were once supported by Syria along with Comrade Assad.

The PKK mainly carries out explosions against the military and police, but they also carry out many terrorist attacks in the tourist areas of Ankara and Istanbul. There are dozens of children, tourists and foreign citizens on the account. The PKK has been carrying out terrorist attacks since about the 80s, and since the mid-90s the Kurdistan Workers' Party has been recognized as terrorist and extremist in most countries.

Since the 2000s, terrorism in Turkey has been carried out by Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which are banned in the Russian Federation and a number of countries.

Accordingly, Russians may fall victim to PKK terrorist attacks only by accident. But there is a possibility of becoming victims of radical Islamic movements.

Is it safe to travel to Turkey?

You have to understand that everything is quite calm in Turkish resorts; the last explosion with casualties among Russians was in Kemer in 2011.

If you don’t go to Ankara or Istanbul, then the chances of falling under a terrorist bomb at a Turkish resort are much less than becoming a victim of a drunken brawl somewhere in Sochi or Anapa.

The sea coast of Turkey is heavily guarded, the territory of many hotels is closed, it is almost impossible to plant a bomb there or break in with machine guns. To do this, the militants would have to travel across the entire country, overcome checkpoints and inspection points in the south.

From a security point of view in Turkey, the most remote areas are Fethiye, Marmaris, and Bodrum. If a terrorist wants to blow up someone, he will most likely go to Istanbul, and not to these areas. But Antalya and, especially, Alanya are very close to Syria.

To protect yourself, it’s better to go to Russia, where there are few Russians, but more Germans and EU citizens. In this case, there is even less likelihood that there will be an attack.

Be that as it may, considering that Russians have suffered almost no harm in recent years, and Turkish resorts do not attract militants, it is relatively safe to go there on vacation.

And you can, of course, spit on the quality of your vacation and go to.

Are tours in September the safest?

Cheap all-inclusive tours to Turkey for September 2019 are the most attractive and safe, because during this period militant activity occurs only in the southeast. This tour would be a great gift, especially for a young family. Today, few people in Russia can afford a trip to the Maldives or even Thailand. Turkey remains the most popular and inexpensive destination, and in its beauty it is clearly not inferior to the ocean. Turkey also has blue lagoons, mountains, hills covered with amazing plants, palm trees, delicious seafood, and the service in Turkey is traditionally ahead of other countries. That is why, by the way, wealthy Germans go there on vacation in the fall, who could afford to vacation in more expensive places.

In September 2019, it is quite realistic to purchase a tour to Turkey in a five-star hotel for the price of a three-star one, because many hotels, due to a decrease in the number of tourists, are announcing all sorts of promotions and discounts. It is also sometimes possible to buy a last minute trip to Turkey for September 2019 cheaply, which other tourists refused, or which could not be sold earlier. This year in the fall it is more than possible to do this, since many Russians have refused to travel to Turkey due to falling domestic incomes and fear of terrorist attacks.

An all-inclusive tour to Turkey for September 2019 will be especially inexpensive if you choose it online.

Against the background of the aggravated political situation that has developed in many Arab countries, primarily in Tunisia and Egypt, many tourists refuse to go on vacation to these countries, fearing for their lives. Not always honest journalistic articles and commercials add fuel to the fire, encouraging people to go to other resorts. Is it really so dangerous to vacation at popular resorts in Egypt? Tourism business experts tried to figure it out.

According to statistics, about 40-50% of the total flow to Egypt are tourists from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The largest share of tourists falls on the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. Such high numbers indicate that tourists like to relax in these latitudes, they are attracted by high holiday services, and of course inexpensive trips to Egypt, allowing them to have a fun and carefree holiday on the Red Sea coast, like in a fairy tale.

And returning to the main issue of security, it is worth noting first of all that all resort areas have never been affected by demonstrations or riots. The police, military, and security services of the country carefully ensure that there is no danger or discomfort for vacationers in hotels. In addition, after the latest terrorist attacks in Tunisia and at a checkpoint in Egypt, security measures have been further strengthened. The tourist destination is the most profitable industry in the country, which brings huge income to the state treasury, and therefore the government is doing everything to ensure that recreation is at the highest level.

But what you should be wary of is traveling independently in Egypt without a guide or trained person, as there is a high risk of running into trouble. You should not give in to the temptation of cheap car rental: it is better not to leave the hotel area at your own discretion, especially during a period of aggravation of the political situation.

The second danger that lurks in Egypt is unsanitary conditions. In Egypt, you should never drink water directly from the tap. You should only purchase drinking water in plastic bottles in special stores and restaurants designed for foreigners. If you want to save money on your trip and refuse All Inclusive services, think again, since the money you save will be spent twice as much on purchasing bottled drinking water. Don't forget, in Egypt, especially in summer, it is very, very hot. It is not recommended to swim in river water or move far from the sea. The coastal waters of the Nile are inhabited by flatworms that cause the disease Schistosomiasis.

The third danger is the high risk of getting severely sunburned if you do not use any sunscreen, which must be applied frequently and sufficiently. Mosquitoes can be another problem, especially if you are staying in an inexpensive hotel: you cannot do without mosquito repellent.

Thus, before booking a tour to Egypt, it would be a good idea to ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the safety of your trip at the moment if you hear not entirely rosy news from the TV screen. Avoid various political demonstrations and peaceful marches while on vacation, and choose proven resorts where tourist safety comes first, and then you can enjoy your vacation.

For most, the holiday season is just around the corner, and for some it has already begun, so it’s time to puzzle over the choice of destination and place for a summer vacation.

For families with children, youth and people on a limited budget, the number one holiday destination has always been Turkey. Due to recent political events, this country was closed to Russian tourists, and people were forced to look for an alternative.

However, in the fall of 2016, the tourist flow began to gain momentum again. The upcoming season promises to return the Turkish shores to their former popularity and love of tourists, however, vigilant citizens have concerns about whether it is dangerous to travel to Turkey in the summer of 2019. Let's figure out whether such fears are justified.

The main external problem of the country is that Turkey borders Syria, a country where military operations are ongoing with terrorist groups. The common border, purely theoretically, creates opportunities for radical Islamists to penetrate into Turkish territory.

Military operations in Syria have not stopped at the moment, so there may be unrest in Turkey, which borders Syria. However, all resort areas are located in another part of the country at a considerable distance from the Syrian border.

In order to worry less about their safety, I would like to recommend the following to those going on vacation.

If possible, do not leave the hotel premises again.
If you leave the territory, try to avoid crowded places (markets, public transport, mass performances).
When leaving the hotel, be sure to take your voucher and copies of your international passports with you (we remember that the police will be very vigilant).
Many people ask whether it is possible to go on holiday to Istanbul and other cities besides the coastal ones. Still, refrain from leaving resort areas. It is better not to tempt fate and postpone trips to the eastern regions of the country and to cities bordering Syria.

I hope the information helped you make the right decision regarding choosing a vacation spot!

Dear Anna, if you go on vacation to Georgia, the impressions of pleasant people, clean cities and picturesque outskirts, delicious dishes in local restaurants and modern beaches will be enough for you for many years! :). And also safety... For tourists like you and me, every year Dutch professor Jan van Dijk conducts an independent study of resorts. According to his “audit”, Georgia was recognized as the safest country last year!

My family and I also check existing information before traveling to any country by reading forums and travel sites. But the most reliable thing for us is checking through a request to a travel agency. That is, if the country is not included in the “We advise you to abstain” list, then you can go :)

And in Georgia it’s not only safe, it’s also not expensive compared to EU resorts. The quality of services is not only at the same level, but also “cordial”! Our friends told us that the only danger in Georgia is older people who like to talk. They will pester you not only and not so much with questions about your attitude in their country, but will tell you the history of their Motherland and their family. And the rules of good manners will not allow you not to listen! :)

You also need to be careful (like in our country) on the roads. Not all drivers adhere to traffic rules. Well, in public places, as in any resort, keep an eye on valuables - such places anywhere on the planet attract those who like to profit from other people's property during the holiday season...

For a safe and inexpensive stay, I can recommend the private boarding house "Gulnasi's Guest House", which is located in Batumi on Lermontov Street, 24-a. Free Wi-Fi, bed linen and towels, 24-hour water, possibility of self-catering or get it for an additional fee fee (2 euros - breakfast, 4-7 euros - lunch or dinner), tea, coffee, fruit - free.

Accommodation in an almost family atmosphere is possible for a fee:

Triple room - 10 euros per person per night;

Double - 9 euros per person per day (yes, double - cheaper).

You can get from the railway station by city buses No. 15, 25, 45.

Also inexpensive, clean and with good service in Batumi, at the address: Melikishvili street, 97 there is a "Guesthouse in Batumi". You can get from the railway station by bus number 22 - you need to ask the driver to stop at the intersection of Chavchavadzhe and Melikishvili streets. Drivers in Georgia, in addition to “scheduled” stops, also stop at the request of passengers :)

In this boarding house, all rooms are double, but the price of accommodation is from 11.00 to 12.40 per person per day. Cheaper - a room with a double bed, more expensive - with two beds.