Tour operators plan to fly home up to 5,000 UK holidaymakers from Tunisia and have cancelled outbound trips this weekend after the Foreign Office advised against all but essential travel this morning.
Anti-government protests have left tens of people dead, with the toll feared to be higher than the 23 deaths so far confirmed.
Thomas Cook has 1,800 clients in Tunisia and will operate six flights today to return most to the UK, with a possible seventh flight to follow. The company said it “strongly advised” people to return home and was reviewing departures due next Wednesday, January 19.
Tui Travel has 1,500 in Tunisia and is offering customers the chance to fly back if they wish while it monitors the situation in liaison with the Foreign Office. A spokeswoman pointed out the Foreign Office has not advised clients be evacuated but Thomson and First Choice have cancelled all excursions.
Tui will operate one UK repatriation flight today and four more on Sunday. There are no reports of problems in resorts. However, there have been protests in Sousse and Hammamet. The government has imposed a nightly curfew in the capital Tunis.
Abta estimates 5,000 UK tourists are in the country and has advised them to exercise caution, follow the advice of tour operators and local authorities, and monitor Foreign Office advice.
Package holidaymakers whose departures have been cancelled will be entitled to take a comparable holiday elsewhere, rebook for later or have a full refund. Those with departures booked beyond Sunday should contact their tour operator. People with a flight-only booking should contact their airline.
Tui helpline
Tui Travel has set up a helpline for Thomson and First Choice customers due to travel to Tunisia in Sunday after cancelling all departures.
Clients may call 0800 009 3834 up to 10pm tonight and from 11am to 10pm on Saturday.