Operators Rule Out Tunisia Holidays, But Bookings Surge Elsewhere
The decision by tour operators Thomas Cook, Thomson and First Choice to stop taking holiday bookings to Tunisia until at least October 31 has seen bookings rise elsewhere.
The three travel giants had still been taking bookings until last week, when they decided to cancel all existing bookings and stop taking new ones.
Protests continue to occur across Tunisia and a curfew is still in place. The Tunisian resort or Sousse was the scene of a terrorist gun attack last summer, in which thirty-eight died. Thirty-three were package tourists with Thomson or its sister firm First Choice.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which provides travel advice for UK citizens travelling abroad and is responsible for protecting and promoting British interests worldwide, advises against all but essential travel to Tunisia.
On the FCO.GOV website, it states:
“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise[s] against all travel to:
- the Chaambi Mountain National Park area
- the Tunisia-Algeria border crossing points at Ghardimaou, Hazoua and Sakiet Sidi Youssef
- the militarized zone south of, but not including, the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba
- within 5km of the Libya border area from north of Dhehiba up to but not including the Ras Ajdir border crossing
The FCO advise[s] against all but essential travel to the rest of Tunisia.”
Bookings to Tunisia have dropped off dramatically, as they have to Egypt and some parts of Turkey. Other European destinations, however, are seeing a surge in demand as people seek alternative holiday locations for the upcoming summer.
Popular Mediterranean hot spots like Spain and Greece are likely to see even more tourists this year, to the degree that demand may outstrip supply in the height of the summer. This could also see prices rise higher than normal.
It is unclear if and when the security situation in Tunisia will improve, but a search for 'Tunisia holidays' on Google reveals that all three operators are still advertising "Tunisia Holidays 2016 / 2017".
Mediterranean Holidays 2016
If you're considering a classic Mediterranean holiday this summer, it may be wise to book early in order to avoid disappointment. And while prices may rise due to increased demand, if the pound maintains its position against the Euro, a summer time break on mainland Europe should still be affordable.
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