Tourists may be questioning their summer travel plans to Tunisia following missile attacks between Israel and Iran earlier this month.
Advice from the UK Foreign Office currently considers Tunisian tourist resorts safe to travel to – however, travel guidance for North Africa has been updated to reflect ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
After Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on 13 June and attacks escalated between the two countries and the US, a ceasefire deal proposed by US President Donald Trump has been tentatively holding since 24 June.
Tunisia has long been a popular tourist destination in North Africa due to its dependable hot weather and historic cities, but with security risks for travel to the neighbouring regions, tourists have raised concerns about their holiday plans.
Here’s the latest travel advice for Tunisia, plus all the key questions and answers.
What does the Foreign Office say?
According to Foreign Office travel advice for Tunisia, as of 30 June: “Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region.”
Tourists are told to monitor local and international media for the latest information, “be vigilant” and follow the instructions of local authorities.
Generally, the FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Tunisia. This includes the Tunisia-Algeria border and the Chaambi Mountains National Park due to “cross-border terrorist activity and operations by the Tunisian security forces”.
Also included in Tunisia’s “do not travel” area is within 20km of the Tunisia-Libya border, the militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba, and the town of Ben Guerdane and the immediate surrounding area.
It says: “This is due to cross-border terrorist activity and fighting in Libya.”
The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to other areas in southern and western Tunisia and reminds tourists that there is a “high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests”.
Travellers are also warned to avoid demonstrations in response to the current situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in some Tunisian cities, including outside some western embassies.
Are flights continuing to Tunisia?
Yes, flights are operating as scheduled to Tunisia’s main tourist aviation hubs, including Tunis-Carthage and Enfidha-Hammamet airports.
What if I have booked a holiday to Tunisia?
As the Foreign Office has not warned against travel to most of Tunisia, there will be no special circumstances to cancel a trip for a full refund due to safety concerns. The main tourist spots – Hammamet and Tunis – are a fair distance from Tunisia’s “do not travel” areas anyway.
The conditions for cancelling your trip will depend on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you wish to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim travel insurance due to safety concerns unless the FCDO advice changes.
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