FCO’s new policy gives operators a headache
Tour operators are claiming the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s new policy of issuing warnings against travel more sparingly is forcing them to make difficult decisions about taking holidaymakers to troubled destinations. In June, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw outlined significant changes to the travel advice following a six-month review and pressure from tour operators to take a more lenient approach. The Foreign Office said in future it would advise against travel to a country only if the threat was ‘extreme and dangerous’. Travel companies, which for insurance purposes cannot offer tours if the government advises against travel, were initially delighted, particularly as places such as Bali, where more than 200 people were killed in a bomb attack in 2002, came off the blacklist. But four months on, tour operators are complaining the onus is now on them to judge whether a destination is safe. The issue has been highlighted by the increase in violence in Nepal. Under the new guidelines, the Foreign Office has warned there is a high threat of violence from Maoist rebels, including bombing and shooting in public places and tourist areas. It has provided updates, including a recent ceasefire and an increase in the intensity of violence. It has not, however, warned British travellers to avoid Nepal. Bales has stopped tours, while others have decided to continue. Mandy Nickerson, managing director of Bales, said: “We stopped treks some time ago because Maoists were demanding money from people, but with the bombing of hotels, we consider the situation too dangerous. “It’s very difficult for tour operators because we have to make a moral decision about whether to stop trips or not. Before it was very simple: the Foreign Office would advise against travel and we would stop.” A spokesman for Exodus said: “We are monitoring the situation closely and continuing trips, but it is very difficult. The Foreign Office can’t win – it gets criticised for being too hard or too soft.” Andy Cooper of The Federation of Tour Operators sympathised with operators, saying under the previous policy, Nepal would be off limits. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: “We listen to operators’ concerns, but the advice is there for individuals to make up their own mind about travel.”
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