Foreign Office Should Relax Tunisia Travel Advice Says Ambassador as UK Tourism Plummets 90%
A beach on Djerba Island, Tunisia
ITV
The Foreign Office should relax its travel advice on Tunisia, the country's ambassador has said, after UK tourism to the country plummeted 90%.
Britons are currently warned against all but essential travel to the country following terrorist attacks last year.
In an interview with the BBC, Nabil Ammar, the north African country's ambassador to the UK said the Government should take into account the security improvements and progress that has been made in recent months.
Every week terrorist cells are dismantled. Terrorists are arrested or neutralised. This should give a positive image, not a negative one.
If you take statistics, you have much less chance to die in Tunisia or to have any harm in Tunisia than so many countries close to us.
– NABIL AMMAR
The Foreign Office maintained that the safety of British travellers is its main concern.
Between January and April 2015, Tunisia saw 84,225 visitors from the UK. In the same period for this year there were just 5,980 - a fall of 90%.
We know our travel advice can have a knock-on effect on local economy and political considerations, but we don't let this influence the advice we give. The safety of British nationals is our main concern.
We are working closely with the Tunisians to understand the terrorist threat better and to help them to strengthen measures to protect tourists further. Our travel advice is under constant review and we will change it as soon as the security situation permits.
– A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE FOREIGN OFFICE
In June of last year gunman Seifeddine Rezgui targeted holidaymakers at the beach resort of Sousse, killing 38 people, including 30 Britons - three of who all belonged to the same family.
Rezgui was shot dead by security forces.
So-called Islamic State claimed responsibility.
Three months earlier so-called Islamic State gunmen killed 22 people in the Bardo National Museum in the country's capital, Tunis.
British tourist Sally Adey, 57, from Shropshire, was one of those killed.
Last updated Tue 24 May 2016
ITV
The Foreign Office should relax its travel advice on Tunisia, the country's ambassador has said, after UK tourism to the country plummeted 90%.
Britons are currently warned against all but essential travel to the country following terrorist attacks last year.
In an interview with the BBC, Nabil Ammar, the north African country's ambassador to the UK said the Government should take into account the security improvements and progress that has been made in recent months.
Every week terrorist cells are dismantled. Terrorists are arrested or neutralised. This should give a positive image, not a negative one.
If you take statistics, you have much less chance to die in Tunisia or to have any harm in Tunisia than so many countries close to us.
– NABIL AMMAR
The Foreign Office maintained that the safety of British travellers is its main concern.
Between January and April 2015, Tunisia saw 84,225 visitors from the UK. In the same period for this year there were just 5,980 - a fall of 90%.
We know our travel advice can have a knock-on effect on local economy and political considerations, but we don't let this influence the advice we give. The safety of British nationals is our main concern.
We are working closely with the Tunisians to understand the terrorist threat better and to help them to strengthen measures to protect tourists further. Our travel advice is under constant review and we will change it as soon as the security situation permits.
– A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE FOREIGN OFFICE
In June of last year gunman Seifeddine Rezgui targeted holidaymakers at the beach resort of Sousse, killing 38 people, including 30 Britons - three of who all belonged to the same family.
Rezgui was shot dead by security forces.
So-called Islamic State claimed responsibility.
Three months earlier so-called Islamic State gunmen killed 22 people in the Bardo National Museum in the country's capital, Tunis.
British tourist Sally Adey, 57, from Shropshire, was one of those killed.
Last updated Tue 24 May 2016
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