Changes to FCDO advice are a welcome relief

The relaxation of Foreign Office advice for Gulf destinations was anticipated by many in the trade, yet the confirmation still came as a huge relief for those who had spent Thursday morning hitting refresh on the guidance pages for the region.

The confusion, hostility and mixed messaging coming out of the negotiations last weekend was a sign, if any were needed, that the process will be long and volatile, and that means a cloud of uncertainty still exists.

But with reports of a return to relative normality from industry colleagues in the region even before the peace deal was signed, the door is at least now open to rebuild confidence and start selling these spectacular destinations again.

The other significant benefit of the change in advice is the removal of regulatory barriers to selling transit flights through key hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, and that means the relaxation was also a source of encouragement for those selling long-haul holidays to the east.. 

With an element of stability injected into the political landscape closer to the home with the news of an orderly transition for outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer, there is hope that more customers will feel confident to commit to booking for this summer and beyond.

No doubt there will be more hold-ups and diversions on the road ahead, but with two of the larger potholes filled in for now, the journey looks smoother than it has at any point in the past four months.

Comment originally from Travel Weekly, June 25 edition