Beaches normally packed with Brit tourists are now DESERTED as holidaymakers shun Turkey following coup
The resort of Antalya is in crisis as beaches lie empty after the attempted military coup last weekend
THESE photos of empty sunloungers and deserted beaches show how tourists have deserted Turkey in their droves just days after a failed coup against the country's president.
Hundreds of holidaymakers are understood to have cancelled their bookings after a section of the Turkish military attempted to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, although these cancellations do not guarantee any sort of refund.
Tour firms have been inundated with calls from worried tourists wanting a refund in the wake of the bloody coup, in which more than 250 civilians were killed.
A spokesman for ABTA said: “Following reports of an attempted military coup in Turkey, the situation remains fluid.
“The vast majority of British travellers to Turkey will fly directly to the beach resorts on the south coast which are hundreds of miles away from Istanbul and Ankara.”
But pictures of empty beaches in the resort of Antalya indicate Turkey’s tourism industry will be hit hard after the attempted coup which saw up to 50,000 British holidaymakers left fearing for their safety.
Specialist Turkish travel agents say the failed military takeover will have a “huge financial impact” on their businesses.
Britons, who had expected to spend their days enjoying themselves in the sun, reported hearing gunfire and explosions, admitting they were left “petrified” among crowds of people crying and screaming.
Itir Sokmen, of London-based Tulip Holidays, said: “We’ve had dozens of people wanting to delay or cancel flights.
"It’s been terrible.”
Just days ago Twitter users posted pictures of the “quiet beaches” as they waited to return home - after being left stranded in the aftermath of the incident.
Angela Bailey, 46, from Essex, said: "No news being given out by hotel staff - we are having to use social media to find out anything, flight is tonight from Antalya so just waiting now.
"Nowhere near as many people out and about or on the beach, so obviously a sense of wariness.
"A few people are in the water, but this time yesterday both sides of the beach were packed."
The Foreign Office has relaxed its travel advice for Britons visiting the country.