Travel bulletin for ANZAC Day commemorations at Gallipoli

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is today issuing a preliminary 'ANZAC Day' bulletin on the security risks for the ANZAC Day commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015. This bulletin, issued on the Smartraveller website will be updated with more details in March next year.

While it is impossible to predict the security environment six months ahead of the event, I encourage Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in Turkey.

Turkey is on the front line of the ongoing wars in Iraq and Syria. The security environment is volatile. Terrorists have been active in Turkey before and ISIL poses an extra threat to the region. However, the Gallipoli peninsular is far from Turkey's borders with Iraq and Syria.

Turkish authorities, together with Australia, have put in place tight security arrangements for the ANZAC Day commemorations. There is currently no indication that terrorist groups intend to attack Australians or Australian interests in Turkey. This includes the ANZAC Day commemorations at Gallipoli.

The Department of Veterans' Affairs is managing commemorations at Gallipoli. Its website provides further information on the event, including other opportunities to mark the Centenary, conditions of entry and other climatic and health considerations.

Many Australians will be visiting Gallipoli for the 'ANZAC Day Commemorations' in April 2015. I urge travellers to stay informed to ensure they enjoy their visit.

I encourage travellers to register their travel on the Smartraveller website, subscribe to both the ANZAC Day bulletin and the Turkey country advice and purchase the most appropriate travel insurance policy before leaving Australia.