Australian tourists rethink travel plans as terrorism fears worsen

FOUR in five (84%) Australians fear flying with at least half blaming terrorism, finder.com.au, the site that compares virtually everything, has revealed.

Terrorist attacks on planes including the aircraft being hijacked is the major reason why Australians fear taking-off – instilling fear in 45% of Aussie jetsetters, according to a finder.com.au survey of 2,005 Australians. And it’s not just attacks in the air they are worried about.

High profile terrorist incidents in cities such as London, Berlin, Paris, Nice and most recently Barcelona have made Australians wary about traveling in Europe.


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Travel advice updated for The Gambia

FOLLOWING the presidential elections on December 1 and subsequent challenging of the election results by the incumbent President, Yahya Jammeh, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all but essential #travel to The #Gambia due to ongoing political uncertainty and potential military intervention.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has urged british citizens currently in The Gambia to leave by commercial means if they have no essential need to remain.

The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high and could result in Banjul International Airport being closed at short notice.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office urged all travellers to take extra care, keep in regular contact with your tour operator and airline and continue to monitor travel advice and social media updates in case tensions rise as the current political deadlock continues. Avoid large crowds and avoid discussing politically sensitive topics in public.

There is an underlying threat from terrorism. You should be vigilant after recent attacks in Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso, especially in places visited by foreigners.

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US issues travel warnings for Egypt & Jordan

The US has issued travel warnings for Egypt and Jordan over the risk of terror attacks against American interests, tourists and personnel.  The US State Department warned US citizens to consider the risk of travelling to these countries and to avoid certain areas where the threat is greater.

"The Egyptian Government maintains a heavy security presence at major tourist sites, such as Sharm el-Sheikh... and at many of the temples and archaeological sites located in and around greater Cairo and in the Nile Valley," the travel warning read.

"US Mission personnel are allowed to travel to these areas. However, terrorist attacks can occur anywhere in the country," the alert added, explaining that several extremist organisations are operating in Egypt, including the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

The US has also warned its citizens and staff against travelling to Jordan, where terror organisations, including the IS, are active.

"Jordan's prominent role in the counter-IS Coalition and its shared borders with Iraq and Syria increase the potential for future terrorist incidents," the State Department said.

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US State Department issues Europe travel advisory

THE US State Department has issued a travel advisory for all Americans considering travel in Europe over the Christmas period due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks over the holiday period.

The alert states "U.S. citizens should also be alert to the possibility that extremist sympathizers or self-radicalized extremists may conduct attacks during this period with little or no warning. Terrorists may employ a wide variety of tactics, using both conventional and non-conventional weapons and targeting both official and private interests."

The travel alert is set to expire on February 20, 2017.

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US issues travel warning for Turkey

A recent warning from the US State Department has advised American citizens against travel to Turkey following the recent engagement of military operations inside Syria and increased threats from terrorist groups.

The US State Department advised on August 23, 2016, that the voluntary departure of family members assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara and U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul had been extended through September 23, 2016.

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British tourists welcome increased security measures in France

FOLLOWING the announcement that some beaches in #France will be patrolled by armed police and that holidaymakers have been banned from taking large bags on to the beach in Cannes, research suggests that one third of British people planning a summer #holiday this year welcome these increased security measures.

Almost 90% of respondents in a survey by Travelzoo do not believe increased security measures this summer will impact their holiday negatively, and over one third think the UK should follow France's lead and adopt similar measures at beaches and tourist spots in Britain.

The research also found that 50% of respondents would be prepared to pay at least 5% more for their breaks if it meant extra security, with one fifth saying they would pay as much as 10% or 15% more.

‘Over 17 million British tourists visit France every year, so it is extremely important for the country to demonstrate that everything is being done to protect tourists on beaches and in public places,’ said Louise Hodges, head of Communications at Travelzoo.

‘While one quarter of those surveyed say armed police on beaches could be off-putting, over a third are in favour of these new security measures, and half are prepared to pay extra for more security on holiday. This is significant as, post-Brexit, holidays in Europe this summer will feel more expensive, given the drop in the value of the pound against the euro.

‘Our research shows that long-time favourites Spain and France remain the top destinations for this summer, so it's reassuring to learn that these recent changes in security are not putting British tourists off.’

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Instability in Turkey will be ‘catastrophic’ for travel industry: Euromonitor

TERRORISM and the failed political coup in #Turkey could spell disaster for country’s #tourism sector … so says Euromonitor International’s travel project manager, Nadejda Popova. 

‘Recent political events in Turkey will be catastrophic for its travel industry,’ she says. Several terrorist attacks, the failed political coup as well as the collapse of Turkey-Russia relations will be detrimental for the recovery of its tourism industry. 

The fear factor amongst tourists and high level of uncertainty are expected to shift the interest of travellers from Turkey to other destinations, which will now also include travel away from Europe.’

In 2015, Turkey received 34.7 million international arrivals in terms of number of trips, but this performance is expected to be heavily impacted by events this year. According to the latest United Nations World Tourism Organization Barometer, international arrivals in the country declined 10% in Q1 2016.

‘Terrorism and general instability are changing the perceptions among travellers in terms of how safe the country is as a destination,” says Ms Popova. ‘This could continue in the mid- to long-term if adequate security measures are not taken by the Turkish government. Short term, the market will suffer direly from those events, but with the right approach by the government, proving the strengthened security and reassuring tourists, it could recover faster than we can now foresee.

‘However as this is not the first incident in the country this year, these events will cause a much longer term impact on the industry. As seen from [other] examples in the Middle East such as Tunisia, one isolated attack cannot cripple the entire industry, but repetitive attacks will definitely prevent the development of the tourism industry”

In Europe, big travel players such as Tui and Thomas Cook are already reporting a significant decline in bookings to Turkey, which Popova said were down more than 35%.

‘This, of course, showcases that demand is very low and travellers are shifting their holiday plans to other destinations,” said Ms Popova.

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France extends state of emergency after Nice murders

FRENCH president Francois Hollande has extended the country's state of emergency for a further three months after the #BastilleDay murder of more than 80 people in #Nice. The current state of emergency was in place until July 23, but will now continue until at least October 23.

Authorities say 84 people died after a lorry was driven into a crowd who had been watching the fireworks as part of Bastille Day celebrations in the city's Promenade des Anglais.

It is reported a further 18 are 'fighting for their lives' and hundreds are injured. The UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has confirmed that at least one British national was among those injured.

The lorry driver, who allegedly then opened fire on the crowd, was shot dead by police. He is reported to be a 30-year-old French-Tunisian who was known to the police but not to France’s intelligence agencies.

M.Hollande said France was ‘filled with tragedy’, and promised more troops and tighter border controls, although it’s believed the terrorist was a French citizen living in the Nice area.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office urged British visitors in the area to follow the instructions of the French authorities.


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Airport security: Ben Gurion knows how to do it

BEN GURION AIRPORT is one of the world’s most secure air travel hubs. No one has been killed or injured as a result of terrorism at the Tel Aviv airport for the past 44 years. Nor has any departing plane been attacked during that time. 

With the latest spate of terror attacks in Europe and Africa, other airports, including London Heathrow, are considering copying some of the practices that have led to the Israeli terminal's stellar security record. Ben Gurion will reportedly share some of its security expertise with other airports this summer, and Heathrow is interested in applying some of the practices used in Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv has multiple layers or ‘rings’ of security. Cars entering the airport have to pass through checkpoints manned by armed guards who ask questions and perform searches if deemed necessary. At check-in, each passenger is questioned by a security official who is trained to look for certain behaviours that arouse suspicion. Some travellers are subject to additional questioning and searches based on what these behavior detection specialists find. The airport has plain-clothes agents who circulate the terminals looking for suspicious behaviour.

Ben Gurion’s director, Shmuel Zakay, says that it is not luck that his airport has escaped terror attacks or the past four decades plus. The high level of security is a matter of necessity, not just for passenger safety, but for the country’s connection with the outside world. ‘This airport is under constant threat. All terrorist organizations know the consequences of hitting Ben Gurion airport. The consequence would be to place the entire state of Israel under an air blockade.’

Heathrow is reportedly considering using plain clothes agents to circulate in the terminals to watch out for suspicious behaviour. Other airports in Europe, meanwhile, are trying to keep a Brussels style-attack from happening again by checking passengers’ travel documents before they enter the terminal. Many airports in Africa, Asia and the Middle East already do this. Unfortunately, some of the other security measure used at Ben Gurion would be more difficult to employ in Europe.

Despite being the only major international hub in Israel, the Tel Aviv airport is relatively small. It has 16 million passengers a year. Heathrow, meanwhile, has more than 70 million. Creating a less-open set-up with multiple document checks and questioning could lead to gridlock. Some people contend that assigning a level of risk to passengers in the way Israel’s security agents do, could lead to racial profiling because of the diverse ethnicities of passengers at major European airports.

The ‘big picture’ ideas used at Ben Gurion, however, could prove helpful at European and US airports however. Adding extra layers of security in the form of plain clothes patrols and document checks to enter the departure hall could go a long way towards making these hubs safer. Also, European airports could adopt the idea of trying to single out passengers who are more likely to pose a threat.

It is probably impossible to have the same level of security that Ben Gurion has, but major hubs such as Heathrow and those in Europe can do a lot to improve the current state of their security.

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UK travel agents query FCO warnings plan; Tui challenged by terror victims’ families

CONCERNS about Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) plans to introduce a new category of travel advice highlighting the risks of terrorism or crime in destinations not currently subject to warnings have been raised by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

The FCO will announce the results of a review of its advice to travellers this autumn, following a consultation with industry and consumer groups which ended in April. ABTA fears a change will confuse consumers.

Joanne Roper, FCO director of consular services, told a recent ABTA seminar: ‘We aim to differentiate the types of risk more closely, maybe with a fourth level [of advice] that it is generally safe to travel, but be aware that the risks of crime or the terrorist threat are higher than at home.’

The FCO currently rates the safety of areas on three levels. These are shown on country maps on its website in green (safe but consult the advice), amber (advise against all but essential travel) or red (advise against all travel). Most popular destinations, apart from Tunisia, are presently shown in green.

The new tier would sit between green and amber.

Nikki White, ABTA’s head of destinations and sustainability, said: ‘The existing system is well recognized and works well. What will “You’re able to travel, but there is a heightened risk” relate to? We’ve been given no examples. Where will it leave consumers? It’s quite clear now when advice changes from green to amber. We foresee increased confusion. And what will be the impact on a destination if advice changes after people book and they think “Do I want to go?” ’

The review comes as families of 16 of the 30 British holidaymakers murdered in the beach massacre in Sousse last June questioned the role of Tui and other companies in marketing holidays to Tunisia.

Legal papers submitted on behalf of the families to an inquest into the deaths accuse Tui of ignoring security warnings, ‘enticing’ holidaymakers with cheap offers, and deterring people from cancelling by refusing refunds. They also suggest that updated FCO advice was not mentioned on Tui’s website, in its brochures, or on booking forms. The victims’ families claim Tui offered 40% discounts on Sousse holidays, despite concerns following the terrorist attack at a museum in Tunis in March last year.

At a pre-inquest hearing at the High Court, Tui’s lawyers said the company did not accept claims about its pricing policy or that it was obliged to carry FCO advice on its site.

The full inquest is not expected to begin until January.

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50 killed in Orlando terror attack

FIFTY people were murdered and a further 53 were injured in a #shooting in a gay nightclub in #Orlando. A state emergency has been declared in Florida.

The gunman, named as Omar Mateen, was killed by police after taking hostages at the Pulse club.

The attack – the worst mass shooting in recent US history – is believed to be ideologically motivated, although though there was no information that the gunman was associated with a particular terrorist group. NBC News has reported that Mateen called the emergency services before the attack and swore allegiance to the so-called Islamic State group. The group later said that an IS "fighter" had carried out the attack.

The suspect, who was a US citizen from the Florida town of Port St Lucie and was of Afghan descent, was not on a terrorism watch list. But officials revealed that the FBI had interviewed Mateen on three occasions in 2013-14 after he made ‘inflammatory remarks’ to a colleague. The investigation was closed.

Shanghai Airport bombing

FOUR people were injured when a man set off a homemade explosive device at Shanghai Airport on Sunday.

The attacker threw a bottle of explosives near a check-in counter in Terminal Two, and then stabbed himself in the neck.

The four victims suffered light wounds and are being treated in hospital, while the attacker is said to be in a critical condition.

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US issues Europe-wide travel warning

THE US State Department has warned Americans of the threat of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe this summer. 

Issuing a travel alert for the whole of the continent, it said the influx of summer tourists and a series of high-profile events, including the Euro 2016 football championship in France, present targets for terrorists planning attacks in public places.

But it said it did not know of any specific threat to sporting events or any European country in particular, and it is not advising Americans not to travel to Europe.

It said: ‘We are alerting US citizens to the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centres, and transportation.’ A spokesman said the alert was issued following 'an accumulation of information'.

It was announced shortly after French president Francois Hollande said terrorism was the biggest threat to the UEFA championship, which starts in France later this month. As a consequence, France has extended the state of emergency announced after the recent Paris terror attacks until July 26 to cover both the football tournament and the Tour de France.

The State Department said: ‘Euro Cup stadiums, fan zones, and unaffiliated entertainment venues broadcasting the tournaments in France and across Europe represent potential targets for terrorists, as do other large-scale sporting events and public gathering places throughout Europe.’

The State Department also mentioned the Roman Catholic church's World Youth Day, beginning on July 26 in Krakow, which it said is expected to draw 2.5 million visitors.

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Tunisia urges lifting of travel warning after UK arrivals plummet 90%; Turkey bookings down by 32%

THE UK government is being urged to relax its warning against all but essential travel to #Tunisia after a 90% drop in British visitors in the first four months of 2016. 

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) guidance has been in place since 31 British holidaymakers were murdered in two terror attacks in Tunisia last year.

The Tunisian ambassador to the UK said the government should take into account security improvements since last year. He said there was now a gap between the ‘perception of the level of security, and the real security on the ground’.

‘Every week terrorist cells are dismantled. Terrorists are arrested or neutralized. This should give a positive image, not a negative one. If you take statistics, you have much less chance to die in Tunisia or to have any harm in Tunisia than in so many countries close to us," he said, adding that he had never seen Tunisia's beaches so empty of tourists.

An FCO spokesman said: ‘We know our travel advice can have a knock-on effect on trade and political considerations, but we don't let this influence the advice we give. The safety of British nationals is our main concern. We are working closely with the Tunisians to understand the terrorist threat better and to help them to strengthen measures to protect tourists further.’

*Market research organization GfK reports a 32% drop in the number of holidays being booked from the UK to Turkey from April 2015 to the same month this year, while bookings to mainland Spain and the Canaries have seen a 33% rise over the same period.

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Latest UK holiday confidence survey is 'encouraging'

ALMOST two thirds of British holidaymakers are concerned about the threat of terrorism, but the majority have not let it dissuade them from travelling. According to latest Holiday Confidence Index for spring 2016 from First Rate Exchange Services, 46% of the 5,155 Brits polled said they had not made changes to their holiday destination because of terrorist attacks.

Over half (56%) of those questioned in the online survey said they intended to holiday overseas in the coming year, while fewer have yet to make a decision. Some 52% of holidaymakers have already booked their first trip, while a third of those taking two or more trips have already arranged a second holiday. This is a significant rise on spring 2015 when only 28% had committed to a second trip overseas.

Despite the fall of sterling and concerns about the impact on prices of a Brexit vote, 66% of holidaymakers intend to travel to Europe on their first trip abroad while 62% of respondents taking two or more trips are planning Eurozone trips for their second holiday. In both cases, this represents a rise since last quarter and also year-on-year.

First Rate said the survey reveals an 'encouraging stability in consumers' appetite for overseas travel in the year ahead, despite the impact of the weaker pound on their pockets, the ongoing threat posed by terrorist attacks, and a sharp fall in confidence about the UK economy.

‘The latest Holiday Confidence Index underlines a trend that we have been noticing for some time: namely, that while there is growing uncertainty about the economy in general, this has not deterred those with a firm resolve to travel abroad on holiday from doing so,’ said Alistair Rennie, First Rate Exchange Services head of strategy and innovation.

‘Not only have well over half of our survey sample confirmed that they will be travelling abroad, but this group is far more confident about the economy and their own personal finances. Nor will they let the falling value of sterling or the threat of terrorism put them off. This is encouraging news for the travel industry in uncertain times.’

The survey was conducted in partnership with the Institute of Travel & Tourism, the University of Wolverhampton, and YouGov.

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Terrorism concerns to boost UK staycations

AN ADDITIONAL one million people in Britain plan to take domestic holidays this year amid rising fears about terrorism abroad, according to research by QHotels.

Almost 34 million people – equivalent to 71% of the adult population – will take at least one UK break during 2016, an increase of more than one million people on 2014.

Increasing fears about safety overseas and rising holiday costs is driving the change, according to the study.

Only half of the people surveyed said they felt completely happy when travelling abroad. One fifth said they were concerned about terrorism overseas, but felt it would not stop them travelling. Seven percent said they were so concerned that they would look at UK alternatives, The Times reported.

Cornwall is the preferred destination of all the English counties, with half of respondents saying they would like to visit this year. Devon was in second place, (38%) followed by Yorkshire in third (31%).

The research among 2,000 adults also found that short breaks are now almost as popular as one-week or two-week holidays.

Claire Rowland, QHotels marketing director, said: ‘The traditional fortnight away is no longer what the majority of people want. As a nation, we’re definitely moving more towards shorter and more frequent breaks, and increasingly those breaks are in the UK.

‘Talking to our guests, we know there are a lot of factors driving that change. The cost of going abroad, especially with sterling’s weakness, is obviously a factor, but it’s also becoming more important for people to relieve the stress of their busy working lives by having frequent long weekends away rather than saving up for one big trip a year.’

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Geo-political volatility disrupting holiday bookings, says Cook

HOLIDAY bookings continue to be disrupted by a volatile geo-political backdrop, says Thomas Cook. 

Europe’s second-largest travel group reported that some customers are postponing their holiday decisions, leading to a later booking pattern for the summer.

The group’s summer programme is 40% sold, down 2% on this time last year, but with overall pricing described as “firm”. Bookings are 5% down, resulting in charter flight capacity being trimmed by 3%.

Average selling prices in the UK for the summer are up by 4% for package holidays and 1% for seat-only, while total bookings are below last year's levels due to the later booking pattern.

However, the company believes underlying demand for holidays remains strong as consumers benefit from low fuel prices, interest rates, and inflation.

Group chief executive, Peter Fankhauser, says: ‘Thomas Cook continues to operate in a volatile market environment. We know that customers want a summer holiday, but we can see that some are leaving it later to book this year as they consider their options. Against this backdrop, I remain confident that we are doing all the right things as a business. It's clear also that customers value packaged travel more than ever and feel safer in our hands.

‘The early actions we took to move flights away from Turkey, Tunisia, and Egypt have positioned us well for increased customer demand to resorts in the Western Mediterranean, with strong sales to the Canaries, Balearics, and the Spanish mainland in recent weeks. We have also seen an increase in sales to long-haul destinations such as the US and Cuba as customers look further afield for their holidays.’

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Brussels tourism sector hardest hit by terror attacks, says Euromonitor

In the wake of the terrorist murders in #Brussels on Tuesday, industry analyst Euromonitor International has predicted a 10-20 percent fall in bookings to the Belgian capital in the short- to medium-term. 

‘The impact of these terrible events on the travel and tourism in the city is likely to have a predominantly short to medium term impact on the development of the industry, even though, that the sector in the country has been showing modest growth in 2015 as travellers remained cautious, cutting back on their travel plans in a bid to save money,’ said Nadejda Popova, travel project manager at Euromonitor International.

Brussels concentrates most of Belgium’s business services or activities with the highest value added, while its main airport handled 22 million passengers in 2014, making it the 23rd busiest in Europe. Ms Popova noted that the city recorded more than three million visitors in 2014 – an increase of almost four percent on the previous year, while air travel continued to be a major driver of growth in transportation in 2015 in Belgium.

‘The #terroristattacks are expected to slow down travel demand and possibly could lead to a 10-20% decline in bookings following heightened fears of further attacks in the city similar to the tourism performance of such cities as Paris, Madrid, and London following the terrorist attacks in these parts of the world,’ she said. ‘However, this is not expected to have a long-term impact as the European travel industry has proven to be very resilient to such external impacts and recover fairly quickly.’

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Terrorist attacks drive changes to holiday plans for British tourists

‘Egypt, Turkey, and Greece are the main destinations to suffer from the drop in confidence in the region’

FEARS that terrorist attacks would have an impact on the British travel market have been confirmed by travel management software specialists Multicom.

The Bristol-based online travel software business, recently acquired by Swedish firm Paxport, reported that sales in January showed a decrease in bookings for the Eastern Mediterranean of 40% year-on-year.

Egypt, Turkey, and Greece are the main destinations to suffer from the drop in confidence in the region, reports Multicom. In the same period, bookings to Western European destinations including the Balearics, mainland Spain, and Portugal have noticeably picked up and appear to be the beneficiaries of the downturn further east.

Some holidaymakers are making later decisions about their overseas trips, with bookings for breaks within 30 days before departure increasing.

Multicom’s Chris Nourse said: ‘British holidaymakers are clearly taking a more cautious approach when planning their holidays this year. Over the years, they have shown they can be very resilient when faced with the threat of disruption to their travel plans or an increased risk to their safety for whatever reason. However, the increased threat of terrorism in light of recent events in Tunisia and Sharm-el-Sheikh and the appalling attacks closer to home in Paris have noticeably heightened concern among consumers.

‘We can already see the impact on bookings made through FindandBook, and we expect confidence will be slower to return than we have witnessed previously. It is likely that the continuing threat will affect the balance for the longer term this time round.’

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Holidaymakers upgrade insurance as safety fears persist

TRAVEL agents are selling more comprehensive, ‘higher-end’ holiday insurance policies as consumer’s fears about security persist. 

Consumers are ‘more conscious about cover’ in the current climate, according to Ashley Close, head of #travelinsurance partnerships and business development at Holiday Extras, which sells 90% of its insurance product via travel agents.

The trend has emerged as the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said it was seeking a review of travel insurance regulation following a ‘worrying rise’ in people travelling without cover.

Mr Close said agents who were ‘already doing a good job of selling lower-end policies’ were shifting to policies which offer more cover. ‘People are more conscious of making sure they are protected. If they are going to areas that may be risky, they want to make sure they are covered.’

Andrea Clayton-Norris, sales director at Citybond Suretravel, agreed consumers were ‘moving towards the higher-end, more flexible policies’.

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Terrorist bombings hit Turkish tourism

#TURKEY specialist Elixir Holidays has ceased trading, describing recent bombings in the country as ‘the writing on the wall’, and all-inclusive resort operator Mark Warner has pulled out of Turkey after six years.

Elixir Holidays, based in London, had 309 people booked to travel. A company spokesman said: ‘The bombings have made people very nervous about committing to the country.’

Mark Warner is offering booked customers alternative resorts in Greece, Italy and France.

In a statement, the operator said it had decided that ‘the time is right to bring our current operations in Turkey to an end’.

It follows Thomas Cook's decision to cut capacity to Turkey by 29%. Tui recently reported its bookings to the destination were down by "about 40%" across its markets as sales to Turkey fall amid consumers' security concerns.

Managing director David Hopkins said: ‘Mark Warner has enjoyed a long and happy history of offering holidays to Turkey, but the time is right for us to leave for the time being. We certainly hope to return in the future.’

Turkey's president has vowed to continue its fight against terror attacks after a bomb blast in the country's capital Ankara killed at least 28 people and injured dozens more.

The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office urged British nationals to stay away from the area, warning of further attacks, possibly against Western tourists. ‘The majority of attacks are likely to continue to target the Turkish state. Nevertheless, it is likely that some attacks will also target Western interests and tourism.’

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