The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for Cyprus, Turkey, and Egypt, three popular holiday destinations for British tourists, as the Middle East conflict continues. While none of these countries are on the 'no travel' list, the FCDO has issued warnings about terrorist threats and regional tensions.
For Cyprus, the FCDO warned on 5 March that 'terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out' and advised Britons to 'stay aware of your surroundings at all times.' The warning notes a high global threat of terrorism affecting UK interests. However, there is no advice against travel to Cyprus, though the FCDO acknowledges that regional escalation poses security risks and may cause travel disruption.
In Turkey, the FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the Syrian border due to fighting and terrorism risks. This warning predates the current conflict. Popular tourist areas such as Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, and Izmir are not affected, being 1500–1600km from the Iranian border. A country-wide warning of a high terrorist threat also applies, with most attacks occurring in southeast Turkey, Ankara, and Istanbul.
For Egypt, the FCDO advises against all travel to parts including within 20km of the Libya border (except El Salloum), North Sinai, and other specified areas. It also advises against all but essential travel to some other regions. The FCDO warns of heightened regional tension that could lead to travel disruption, and a high threat of terrorism, though these warnings were in place before the conflict. Around one million Britons visit Egypt each year, and most visits are trouble-free.
