FCDO relaxes guidance for travel to Gulf region

The Foreign Office has relaxed its guidance for Gulf destinations including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.

 

The FCDO no longer advises against all-but-essential travel to the region in a move which will come as a significant relief to the trade.

 

The move for the UAE and Qatar was confirmed on Thursday (June 18) and also covers other destinations in the region including Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

 

Despite the relaxation, the FCDO reiterated the situation in the region remains “unpredictable” and attacks between the US and Iran “could resume at short notice”.

 

Advice against non-essential travel had been in place since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes against US allies in the region.

 

The continuation of the guidance had been criticised by many in the trade, with tour operators particularly impacted under the Package Travel Regulations and some customers signing waivers to transit through the region.

 

Welcoming the change in advice, Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “This is the most important development for tourism to and through the Middle East in some time, although it remains to be seen how quickly a change in FCDO advice will translate into new bookings.

 

“We have been meeting with the FCDO on a regular basis to discuss the crisis and impact on travel, and we know the government won’t have taken this decision lightly.

 

“The FCDO advice is an important tool for both businesses and the public, and – although the previous ‘all but essential travel’ guidance included transit – there was some confusion in the trade about the scope of the guidance, so this move brings more clarity for the sector.

 

“It should be remembered that guidance has not been changed for every country in the region, and the FCDO says the situation remains unpredictable; that means we’re not out of the woods yet, but for now this will be welcome news for many in travel.”

 

Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “We welcome the FCDO’s decision to lift its advisory against travel to the UAE, and we recognise the importance of keeping travel advice under constant review.

 

“At the same time, this episode has exposed a flaw in the current system. Destinations can be swept up in regional events and suffer serious economic damage while remaining entirely safe and fully operational.

 

“Traveller safety must always come first, but there is a strong case for a more nuanced and agile approach that better reflects conditions on the ground and can respond more quickly once risks subside.”

 

Hays Travel chief operating officer Jonathon Woodall-Johnston said: “This update from the FCDO is extremely welcome after months of uncertainty, especially as we move into the key summer season.

 

“Demand for travel to Dubai and onward destinations has remained strong, and we look forward to supporting our customers as they make their holiday plans with renewed confidence.”

 

Barrhead Travel managing director Nicki Tempest-Mitchell said: “The relaxation of FCDO guidance is a hugely welcome development and will give both customers and agents the confidence to move forward and book the UAE as well as opening up the Middle East as a stopover en route to wider long-haul destinations.

 

“Destinations such as Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are incredibly important to our Barrhead Travel business, and they remain a firm favourite with our customers for winter sun, luxury and family holidays.

“I’m confident customers will be ready to re-engage, and this update gives us the assurance to proactively reintroduce these destinations into both our conversations and marketing to help drive bookings.

“Clear, up-to-date guidance remains key, but this is undoubtedly a positive step that should help restore momentum across the market. For our agents, this is a key moment to re-engage with customers and lead with expertise.”

 

Claire Brighton, director of the Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers (Atas), said the decision is “a significant and welcome development for Atas members”.

 

“For several months, the advisory created major challenges for members, particularly for long-haul itineraries across Asia and Australasia which rely on transit via these regions,” she noted.

 

“The revised advice is a positive step for consumer confidence, airline connectivity and the wider travel sector.”

 

Intrepid Travel described the move as a “really positive step for British travellers and the industry”.

 

“It removes a significant barrier and unlocks travel not only to the Gulf states, but also for those transiting through key hubs to Asia, Africa and Australia,” said UK director Joanna Reeve.

 

“This will open up more flight options and hopefully help bring prices down, making travel more accessible as we head into the summer holidays. It should also give people more confidence to plan their trips, and for many hoping to travel long-haul, this will feel like the green light they’ve been waiting for.”

 

Andy Freeth, chief executive of Specialist Holidays Group, hailed the advice change as “the news our industry and Specialist Holidays Group especially has been waiting for”.

 

“Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the wider Emirates have always been among the most in-demand destinations for British travellers, and this restores one of the most important and well-connected gateways in global travel,” he said.

 

“For consumers, it means certainty: confidence to book, confidence to travel and confidence that one of the world’s great connected hubs is open again. For our industry, it’s a vital and welcome step back towards normality.”

 

Specialist Holidays Group is the parent of Sovereign Luxury Travel, Citalia, American Holidays, Destination2 and Destination2 Cruise.

 

Mark Duguid, managing director of Kuoni, sent a message to his team as soon as the news broke on Thursday afternoon, saying the operator is “now free to sell holidays both to, and transiting via, the UAE and Qatar”.

 

He told Travel Weekly: “This is very welcome news and puts us back on the front foot as we move quickly to support customers and restart sales. 

 

“All customers with existing bookings can now travel as planned and we’re reverting to our normal terms and conditions.   

 

“On the back of this news, we anticipate an uplift in demand.”

 

Ben Boesch, joint chief executive at Kuoni parent Dertour UK, hailed the advice change as “good news” for its whole UK division, particularly Kuoni, Carrier and touring brands Explore and Jules Verne.  

 

“But for other businesses, even those not directly impacted by the FCDO travel advice, this will be welcome news if consumers can see an end in sight to the conflict and confidence returns to the market,” he continued.

 

Lesley Rollo, chief executive at dnata Travel Group UK, commented: “The dnata Travel Group brands, Gold Medal and Travelbag, were delighted to hear the news.

 

“It is especially welcome following other positive news earlier today that our Arabian Adventures-operated desert camps and safaris in Dubai have now re-opened for business.

 

“Our teams have already been working tirelessly with our partners to secure the best possible deals for customers who are keen to travel, and our teams on the ground in the Indian Ocean and Asia are equally thrilled that these great-value stopover gateways are now re-open.

 

“Whilst as a group we have pivoted to drive business to other destinations throughout the crisis, we are looking forward to the Middle East bouncing back, where our knowledge and expertise is unrivalled.”

 

Rute Magalhaes, head of commercial at Major Travel, said it was a relief for customers who had already booked but not yet travelled.

 

“Many of those bookings can now proceed as planned, reducing cancellations, protecting agents’ revenues and avoiding further losses for customers, tour operators and suppliers,” she said.

 

“Second, this is an important step in rebuilding confidence, but confidence will not return overnight.

 

“We would expect the Gulf carriers to be back operating with strong load factors within a year.

 

“Today’s FCDO change is not the end of the recovery process, but it is the point at which the trade can start to working towards rebuilding with confidence.”

Agents attending the Aito ’famference’ in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, also welcomed the news.

 

Gemma Antrobus, managing director of Surrey agency Haslemere Travel and Aito Agents chair, said: “This is fantastic news and it’s come quicker than expected. We had thought it would come in the next few weeks. It will help October bookings for families who shelved their plans for summer and moved their holidays to half-term.

 

“It will also help for multi-centres through the Middle East and should bring flight prices down. It’s very welcome news.”

 

Sandra Mutter, of Andara Travel, said the advice meant the West Midlands agency would no longer have to try to find alternative transit routes for future bookings currently booked through the Middle East.

 

“This is a game-changer for all our Australia and Far East bookings,” she said. “We are reassured, it’s such a relief.”

Hannah Porter, owner of Travel By Hannah, said: “We got a booking request immediately after the news broke for a trip to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, although some tour operators didn’t react quickly enough in terms of being able to give us a quote.”

 

But Bakewell Travel director Jacquie Cole cautioned: “It will take a while before I feel confident enough to book; I want the situation to stabilise first a few months before I sell confidently.”