BASQUE
separatist group ETA says it is extending its terrorist campaign to Spanish
tourist areas all year round.
In
a letter to operators and agents, it reportedly warned of a widening out of the
campaign from the summer season.
But
two of the UK’s largest operators to Spain, TUI and MyTravel, both said they
had not been sent the letter.
ABTA
also said it had not received any notification from members of any threatening
letters received from ETA.
A
spokesman said: “ETA always sends out warning letters to operators. We
obviously take the warning seriously as the safety of customers is our number
one priority. However, with all the heightened security measures in Spain
during the main season, we have been fortunate not to have had any serious
incidents which have had an impact on demand and as result the threats are not
a serious worry.”
Spanish
Tourist Office director Manuel Butler echoed this, saying ETA had been making
these threats since 1996 and was not worried about an impact on visitor
numbers.
He
said: “For 2003, visitor numbers were up 10%, with 16 million visitors. I
think we have to put things in context, which is that we are living in an
international terrorism situation and it is very easy to threaten.
“We
have to be very conscious not to publish the terrorist threat because it gives
them free publicity.”
The Foreign Office has slightly amended its advice,
saying visitors should be alert.