Turkish embassy warns against vaccine tourism packages to Serbia

Duvar English

An Istanbul-based travel agency has announced that it is holding tours for Turkish citizens who want to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Serbia, starting at a price of 700 euros for each person.

The agency's promise has stirred controversy as Turkey's Belgrade Embassy said that this situation is not possible for the moment.

The travel agency named Exp-ert Destination Management has been promising people two Belgrade visits, with 21 days apart.

“The first tour will be held on April 23-25 and our guests will have their first jab. Twenty-one days later, there will be another travel to Serbia for the second jab. Our guests will be accompanied by translators who know Turkish and Serbian,” an agency official was quoted as saying by daily Cumhuriyet on April 11.

Asked if these tours are legal, the agency official reportedly said: “These tours are organized from Turkey and Europe. The Serbian Health Ministry is giving vaccination cards to those who get vaccinated. There is currently no intervention of the Turkish Health Ministry to this implementation.”

Turkey's Belgarde Embassy however released a statement saying that Serbia no longer allows people traveling from abroad to be vaccinated in the country.

Hami Aksoy, Turkey's ambassador to Serbia, also refuted the travel agency's promise, saying only foreigners who hold a residence permit in Serbia can get vaccinated.

“Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic has also released a statement with regards to this issue, saying foreigners cannot get vaccinated in Serbia,” Aksoy told state-run Anadolu Agency on April 11.