British tourists have been issued a stark travel warning of a "risk of serious injury or death" in a popular holiday destination abroad.
Following a series of fatal incidents involving British nationals, the UK Government has updated its travel advice for Turkey, adding new warnings about the risks of extreme sports.
The Foreign Office advisory now specifically warns of the dangers associated with paragliding following incidents involving British nationals.
The updated guidance warns that "paragliding is an extreme sport and carries the risk of serious injury or death" and notes that British tourists have suffered fatal and serious injuries while participating in the activity in Turkey.
The Foreign Office advisory now specifically warns of the dangers associated with this extreme sport
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The warning has come as Turkey continues to remain a popular destination for thrill-seeking tourists seeking adventure activities, like paragliding.
The updated travel advice provides specific safety guidance for tourists considering paragliding activities in Turkey.
The Foreign Office advises that tourists should "make sure you are given full instructions and training before your activity".
The Government also recommends broader precautions for all extreme sports, stating that tourists should "check that adequate safety precautions are in place" and "only use reputable operators".
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Travellers are reminded to ensure their travel insurance covers them for all activities they undertake and to carefully read policy details, "especially the small print and exclusions".
The advisory also includes a warning for tourists who may not be participating in paragliding but find themselves near landing zones.
The Foreign Office cautions that "the landing area may be in a public area" where tourists might be present.
For personal safety, the Government has advised visitors to "keep a reasonable distance from potential landing zones".
For personal safety, the Government has advised visitors to 'keep a reasonable distance from potential landing zones'
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This guidance recognises that even bystanders can be at risk from paragliding activities, particularly in popular tourist areas where these sports take place.
The Foreign Office's advises tourists to thoroughly research operators before booking any adventure activities, emphasising that travellers should "make sure your travel insurance covers you for all activities you do" and take time to understand policy limitations.
These warnings form part of the UK's broader travel advice for Turkey, which aims to help British nationals stay safe while visiting the popular holiday destination.
Currently, there is travel advice available for the Turkey-Syria border, the Hakkari province in south-east Turkey and Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey. For full travel advice, visit the FCDO website.
