'Some 376,000 British nationals visited Egypt in 2002, mainly as tourists. Please monitor the FCO website for updates to the travel advice.' 'We have no reason to believe that Cyprus is at risk of an attack from Iraq and, therefore, we see no reason for holiday plans to be changed. 'Turkey is one of a number of countries where there is a threat from domestic terrorism and an increased risk from international terrorism, which the Turkish authorities are tackling with vigour and so far, in the tourist areas, effectively.' Below is its advice to those planning to travel to three countries that have suffered a slump in sales. The Foreign Office advises against all non-essential travel to the following Middle East countries: Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Occupied Territories, Kuwait and Syria. Wrightman was hopeful of short-term recovery: "I honestly believe that after the crisis, bookings to Turkey will soar again."
Many of these said they would book as late as possible in the hope of securing a bargain. The Teletext poll found that 79% of those planning a summer holiday said they would not scrap their plans because of the conflict. The 1991 Gulf War, which came earlier in the year, was over in time for late selling that summer, and the market bounced back." O'Neill said: "The best hope is that the conflict will be resolved reasonably quickly and help to create a buoyant July and August. The crucial question for travellers and travel companies alike is what will happen after war breaks out. They have seen all this before and know that the coast of Turkey that tourists visit is far away from the political problems." He said that out of 15,000 bookings this year, only three people had cancelled and 33 had shifted their holidays to Greece instead of Turkey. Nick Wrightman, managing director of Tapestry, which specialises in upmarket holidays to Turkey and Greece, said: "Up to early January we were 48% ahead of last year and had sold 35% of our capacity. Yet Turkey was the star performer in sales in travel agents before Christmas.
In a national opinion poll conducted for Teletext Holidays, Turkey, which shares a border with Iraq, came bottom of a list of the countries regarded as safe to visit: 90% regarded Australia as a safe destination (Spain came second with 89% and Portugal and France joint third with 88%), but only 33% rated Turkey as safe. Cyprus - down, some say by as much as 50% - and Turkey are the biggest losers. Mainland Spain has been the steadiest of the European destinations while sales to the eastern Mediterranean have been slowest. Travel agents have reported an increase in the sales of UK holidays for the summer. Half-board packages are starting at £165 at named hotels we even have a three-star all-inclusive for £163 with flights from Manchester." Nishma Patel, sales director of Teletext Holidays, said: "We already have lots of availability in mainland Spain in May with self-catering deals from £100 for seven nights going up to £140 and £150. It is just that they aren't ready to plan to take their kids away before a war."ĭespite the cutbacks in May and June, discounts of up to 15% can be found in travel agents for early season holidays. "This suggests that it is not fear of flying that is stopping people booking for the summer. Steve Endacott, MyTravel's managing director of distribution, agreed that winter sales have been encouraging. Tenerife and the Canaries have been popular, as has skiing." Colin O'Neill, marketing director of Advantage, a consortium of 800 independent travel agents, said: "The winter has finished really strongly. Winter holidays have sold better than expected. There is no doubt that holidaymakers are waiting to see what is going to happen." Companies, airlines and hotels are talking to each other to keep capacity in check. Noel Josephides, managing director of Sunvil Holidays, said: "Every company is taking this summer month by month.
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