The travel industry needs to be much more straightforward with holidaymakers about the risks involved in travelling to destinations hit by the recent wave of Arab unrest, according to the Middle East & North Africa Travel Association (MENATA).
p> The travel industry needs to be much more straightforward with holidaymakers about the risks involved in travelling to destinations hit by the recent wave of Arab unrest, according to the Middle East & North Africa Travel Association (MENATA). The association's executive director, Peter Lilley, said:??In some ways, there is no better time to visit?Egypt?or?Tunisia. Package prices to?Egypt?have been slashed by up to 40%, while summer holidays to?Tunisia?are available for less than ?300 for seven nights? half-board at the end of June. You would struggle to find a weekend break in the?UK?for that price.
?Our advice to potential holidaymakers to?Egypt?and?Tunisia?is straightforward. We believe the countries are essentially safe and that there is no real reason not to visit. Both countries desperately need tourists to return and they can be assured of a warm welcome. But there are some risks involved and we feel it is better to be upfront about those - to assist potential holidaymakers to make an informed decision.
?Both?Egypt?and?Tunisia?are currently ruled by interim presidents and temporary governments which have never been seen as the hallmarks of stolidness and stability. Both countries also remain quite volatile and no-one can completely rule out the possibility of further street protests. But then, there was a violent street protest in?London?on Saturday and no one is expecting overseas visitors to start avoiding the?UK?because of that incident.
?In the end, holidaymakers need to make a choice. They can either take advantage of the excellent value for money currently offered by?Egypt?and?Tunisia?while understanding there?s just a possibility their travel plans may be disrupted. Or they can opt for what they perceive is a safer European resort ? even if that means paying more.?There?s no right or wrong answer.??Holidaymakers need to make the decision which suits them.?
For more information from MENATA call?01273-731703 or email?office@menata.org
