Turkish vacationers flock to Greece's Lesbos Island

Vacationers, who lined up overnight with their suitcases for the New Year's holiday, formed long queues in front of the Sea Border Gate in the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir, located in the westernmost part of Turkey. Those arriving from cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli, Bursa, Manisa, and Aydın, as well as Balıkesir, who wanted to travel to Greece's Lesbos Island and from there to other Aegean islands, said they were going to Lesbos to ring in the new year in a different country and culture.

Vacationers who arrived at the first light of dawn to board the ferries filled the vessels of three separate tourism companies. Approximately 2,000 vacationers traveled to Lesbos. Despite it being the middle of winter, the interest in Lesbos due to the New Year's holiday brought smiles to the faces of tourism agencies in Ayvalık and also pleased local tradespeople.

Necmi Hacıoğlu, a guide between Lesbos and Ayvalık, noted that Christmas is celebrated in Lesbos and that Turkish vacationers prefer the Aegean islands to spend the new year in a different country, stating, "Today, more than 700 vacationers are preparing to cross to the islands. They will spend one night in Lesbos and then try to spend their holidays by taking tours of the islands."

Hamdi Atay, a well-known figure in Ayvalık and former President of the Turkish Federation for the Mentally Disabled, and his wife Füsun Atay, also stated that they wanted to spend their New Year's holiday on Lesbos Island, the homeland of their ancestors before the population exchange.

Ali Jale, the owner of a travel agency operating between Lesbos and Ayvalık, emphasized that there is intense interest in the trips they organized for the new year, saying, "Today, we expect 900 people to cross to Lesbos Island from Ayvalık with our company as well as two other companies, including additional ferry services. These services will continue tomorrow. With our additional services tomorrow, we expect nearly 2,000 people to cross to the Greek islands and Lesbos during the New Year's period."

"We think the visa-on-arrival application will start in February"
Commenting on the agreement regarding the 'Visa-on-Arrival' between Turkey and Greece following the initiatives of President Erdoğan, Ali Jale said, "As a result of the agreement between the two countries and the approval of the European Parliament, the Visa-on-Arrival has been approved. We think the infrastructure will likely be prepared and personnel assigned at the beginning of January, and this visa will start at the beginning of February. They say the conditions will be the same as the old ones. It will be a single-entry application with a maximum stay of 7 days. Of course, our citizens will be able to go and come as many times as they want throughout the year with the reservations they make. We wish for a good season."