Tunisia attack: Holidays to Tunisia could be stopped
Pat Dawson, chief executive of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), said his members are awaiting updates from the department in what is a fast-moving and fluid situation, and will comply with whatever advice is issued.
The department last night upgraded its security advice in relation to Tunisia, and urged anyone travelling to the region to “exercise extreme caution”.
“This decision has been taken following consultation with our embassy in Madrid and contact with our EU partners,” Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said.
Mr Dawson said: “For those Irish citizens who are due to travel to Tunisia over the coming days and who now do not wish to travel, they should discuss their arrangements with the relevant travel companies.”
He said the ITAA is in regular contact with the department, and is ready to act if the travel advice changes.
“If the department advises against travel to Tunisia, then that’s it. Our members just won’t send clients there. You just wouldn’t put people in that position,” he said.
ITAA members are licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation and are fully bonded providing full financial protection for their customers.
Mr Dawson was speaking after yesterday’s terrorist gun attack in the Tunisian beachside resort of Sousse, in which an Irish woman and at least 36 other people were killed.
Tunisia never really took off as a sun destination for Irish holiday makers. It sold well during the Celtic Tiger years, and always proved popular when it was sold on special offer. Week-long holidays in Tunisia were available from Cork this week from as little as €279.
However, its unstable political situation in recent years never saw it expand as a holiday market. Mr Dawson said Tunisia accounts for a fraction of ITAA members’ sales, with between 5,000 and 6,000 Irish holidaymakers visiting there annually.
“It’s a tiny market for us — barely registers on our scale. It would sell late, or when on offer, but it was never one of the most popular with Irish tourists. The civil unrest, and the possibility of unrest, meant the routes just never expanded. People were always a bit nervous of committing to it,” he explained.
Martin Skelly, ITAA president, said they are working with their members who offer holidays to Tunisia, and with the department of foreign affairs, to help the Irish families still in the North African country, and with those who have bookings for travel to Tunisia.
The ITAA represents some 100 member companies covering 161 outlets in different towns and cities.
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