Turkey’s tourism authorities issued an update for UK holidaymakers earlier this month, to reiterate that the sun-drenched country is very much still welcoming tourists.

The nation’s proximity to countries like Israel and Iran have understandably left some Brits wondering whether the Middle East war will impact their travel plans. Considering that Turkey greeted 64 million foreign visitors in 2025, not to mention it’s a popular choice with Brits seeking year-round sunshine, it’s no surprise that some families have been keen to know if their holidays will be affected.

However, if you’ve got a trip scheduled, as of the time of writing, the UK Foreign Office doesn’t advise against travel to Turkey which means that your holiday can proceed.

The exception is one region near the country’s border with Syria, as the FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the Turkey-Syria border. The Foreign Office’s website clarifies: “Fighting in Syria continues in areas close to the Turkish border and there is a heightened risk of terrorism in the region. See Terrorism. Due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, roads in Hatay Province leading towards the border may be closed at short notice.” However, it’s worth noting that this advice was in place before the events in the Middle East earlier this year.

Tourism authorities in Turkey have confirmed that resorts, hotels and tourist attractions are still ‘operating as booked’, with flights between the UK and Turkey continuing as scheduled, with no disruptions or airport closures related to the Middle East conflict.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, in conjunction with Türkiye’s Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), confirmed that tourist operations across the country are proceeding as normal, with no closures, disruptions or government-issued restrictions on tourism activity anywhere across the nation.

Understandably, some UK holidaymakers have been uncertain about whether to travel abroad amidst the ongoing conflicts.

If a travel firm cancels your holiday, you’ll be entitled to a full refund. However, if there’s no advice against travel to a destination but you’ve simply changed your mind/want to cancel, whether you can get your money back will depend on a series of factors, including the details of your booking policy. Generally, there is a cancellation fee and the closer to the departure date, the higher this cost is likely to be. It’s worth noting that legally, cancellation fees must be reasonable and justifiable, so if you’re not sure you can ask the travel firm to give you a clear breakdown of any fees, so you know what you’re being charged for. ABTA has a guide to FAQs about cancellations which can be a useful resource.

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