Britain's Foreign Office has advised its citizens "to be extra vigilant” during their travels to Turkey, particularly in its coastal regions, due to the risk of sexual assault.
The Foreign Office's travel advisory read that 42 cases of sexual assault including rape were reported to British diplomatic missions in Turkey last year.
“Most cases happened during summer holidays in coastal tourist areas,” read the update released on Monday. “Crimes were committed at night by someone the victim met during the day, including hotel and spa workers.”
It also mentioned “sexual attacks on minors” using public bathrooms alone.
British nationals make up a large share of foreign tourists traveling to Turkey. Britons became the third-largest group of tourists visiting the country after Russians and Germans, with more than 3.3 million traveling to Turkey last year, according to the Turkish Union of Travel Agencies.
The number of British travelers to Turkey between January and April this year was over 24% higher than in the same period last year.
In addition to Turkey, British citizens traveling to other Mediterranean countries including Egypt, Greece and Lebanon are urged to take extra precautions against sexual crimes, according to the Foreign Office’s website.
