Ministry cancels license of abortion tour company

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

At present Turkey is a popular abortion destination for Middle Eastern and Arab tourists, a health sector expert tells Hürriyet Daily News. AA photo

In an attempt to capitalize on the recent controversy surrounding possible new abortion regulations, Turkey’s Baracuda Tur has launched international “abortion tours” for women looking to combine sight-seeing and medical procedures, daily Radikal reported. 

Baracuda Tur began offering abortion tours to Crimea, Bosnia, Turkish Cyprus and England 15 days ago and has said that 16 customers have already signed up.

“Whenever anything is made illegal or difficult to acquire in the country, people will always find a way to get it. We tourism firms benefit from these regulations,” said Cem Polatoğlu, Baracuda’s general manager. “So far we have sold eight tours to [Turkish] Cyprus, five to Crimea and three to Bosnia,” said Polatoğlu. 

Customers will spend the first day of their abortion tour sight-seeing in their destination of choice before undergoing the medical operation the following day and recuperating on the third and fourth day of the tour. 

Polatoğlu said those who have so far purchased abortion tours have not exceeded the age of 35 and that all have been from Istanbul, with the exception of one who is from İzmit. 

At present Turkey is a popular abortion destination for Middle Eastern and Arab tourists, a health sector expert who asked to remain anonymous told the Hürriyet Daily News in a telephone interview. If abortion is made illegal in the country, however, such medical tourism would come to an end. According to the health sector expert, many Turkish citizens have already begun traveling to Turkish Cyprus for abortions. 

Baracuda Tur charges 299 euros for an abortion tour to Crimea, $600 for one to Bosnia and 1,200 pounds for the same tour to England.