The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued updated travel advice for Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt, three popular holiday destinations for British tourists, amid rising tensions in the Middle East. While none of the countries are on the 'no travel' list, the FCDO has highlighted specific risks and warnings.
For Cyprus, the FCDO warned on 5 March that 'terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out' and that there is a 'high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals'. The advice urges travellers to 'stay aware of your surroundings at all times' and notes that attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreign nationals. Despite this, there is no advice against travel to Cyprus, though the FCDO cautions that 'regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption'.
In Turkey, the FCDO advises against travel within 10km of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism. This warning predates the current Middle East conflict. However, popular tourist areas such as Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Izmir are not affected, being 1,500-1,600km from the Iranian border. There is also a country-wide warning of a 'high threat of terrorist attack', with most attacks occurring in southeast Turkey, Ankara and Istanbul. The FCDO notes that similar warnings are in place for many other countries and that most flights and holidays are proceeding as normal.
For Egypt, the FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the country, including within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border (except El Salloum), North Sinai, northern South Sinai, eastern Ismailiyah Governorate, the Western Desert, the Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid. There is also a 'heightened risk of regional tension' that could lead to travel disruption. A 'high threat of terrorist attack' warning, which existed before the current conflict, remains in place. However, the FCDO does not advise against all travel to Egypt, noting that around one million Brits visit each year and most trips are trouble-free.
