Tourism in Turkey: Authority lifts music ban in Antalya

The nationwide music ban imposed on the grounds of the ‘pandemic’ has been lifted in Antalya, by the authority. During the pandemic, President Tayyip Erdogan had announced that music broadcasting in places such as bars and nightclubs would end at 00:00 from June 2021, due to Covid-19 measures. Moreover, the Ministry of Interior had extended the music broadcast time until 01:00 on May 10, 2022.

Those criticizing the ban had often expressed they wanted it to be lifted because it imposed a conservative lifestyle and caused economic harm to music industry employees.

Eventually, Antalya Provincial Public Health Board convened to review Covid-19 measures. At the meeting, the music ban was canceled on grounds the World Health Organization decided Covid-19 did not constitute a global health emergency (any more that is). Accordingly, the practice related to music broadcasts returned to normal.

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) had announced that the music ban imposed on the grounds of the epidemic was unscientific.