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| Tunisia tourism: Ambassador urges FCO to relax travel warning | Tunisia tourism: Ambassador urges FCO to relax travel warning |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tunisian officials have urged the UK government to relax its advice warning against all but essential travel to the country, after a 90% drop in British visitors in the first part of 2016. | Tunisian officials have urged the UK government to relax its advice warning against all but essential travel to the country, after a 90% drop in British visitors in the first part of 2016. |
| The guidance has been in place since 31 British holidaymakers were killed in two terror attacks in Tunisia in 2015. | The guidance has been in place since 31 British holidaymakers were killed in two terror attacks in Tunisia in 2015. |
| The Tunisian ambassador to the UK said the government should take into account security improvements since last year. | The Tunisian ambassador to the UK said the government should take into account security improvements since last year. |
| The Foreign Office said the safety of British nationals was its main concern. | The Foreign Office said the safety of British nationals was its main concern. |
| Thirty Britons were among 39 killed when a gunman opened fire on tourists in a beach resort near Sousse on Tunisia's Mediterranean coast last June. | Thirty Britons were among 39 killed when a gunman opened fire on tourists in a beach resort near Sousse on Tunisia's Mediterranean coast last June. |
| UK tour operators stopped all package holidays to Tunisia in July following a change in travel advice from the Foreign Office, which still says further terrorist attacks are "highly likely". | UK tour operators stopped all package holidays to Tunisia in July following a change in travel advice from the Foreign Office, which still says further terrorist attacks are "highly likely". |
| However, ambassador Nabil Ammar, who himself comes from Sousse, told BBC local radio there was now a gap between the "perception of the level of security, and the real security on the ground". | |
| Three generations of Tunisian tourism | Three generations of Tunisian tourism |
| Industry is dead, says tour guide | Industry is dead, says tour guide |
| Special report: Tunisia attack | Special report: Tunisia attack |
| 'Terrorists neutralised' | 'Terrorists neutralised' |
| "Every week terrorist cells are dismantled. Terrorists are arrested or neutralised. This should give a positive image, not a negative one. | "Every week terrorist cells are dismantled. Terrorists are arrested or neutralised. This should give a positive image, not a negative one. |
| "If you take statistics, you have much less chance to die in Tunisia or to have any harm in Tunisia than so many countries close to us." | "If you take statistics, you have much less chance to die in Tunisia or to have any harm in Tunisia than so many countries close to us." |
| Mr Ammar said he respected the UK Foreign Office, but it should not allow "the impression that this is not a safe country, and take into account all the progress made" in security. | Mr Ammar said he respected the UK Foreign Office, but it should not allow "the impression that this is not a safe country, and take into account all the progress made" in security. |
| He said he had never seen Tunisia's beaches so empty of tourists, and it was severely hurting the country's economy. | He said he had never seen Tunisia's beaches so empty of tourists, and it was severely hurting the country's economy. |
| "Part of the solution against violence and terrorism is to have a good economy", he said, adding that he wanted the tragedy suffered by both the UK and Tunisia as a result of the terror attacks to "make us two people closer, not separate us at all". | "Part of the solution against violence and terrorism is to have a good economy", he said, adding that he wanted the tragedy suffered by both the UK and Tunisia as a result of the terror attacks to "make us two people closer, not separate us at all". |
| Figures from the Tunisian Tourist Board show a fall of more than 90% in UK visitors for the first four months of this year compared with the similar period a year ago. | Figures from the Tunisian Tourist Board show a fall of more than 90% in UK visitors for the first four months of this year compared with the similar period a year ago. |
| Between January and April 2015, Tunisia saw 84,225 visitors from the UK, but just 5,980 in the first four months of this year. | Between January and April 2015, Tunisia saw 84,225 visitors from the UK, but just 5,980 in the first four months of this year. |
| While the current warning is in place, most travel insurance policies will be invalid for those who plan to travel to the country. | While the current warning is in place, most travel insurance policies will be invalid for those who plan to travel to the country. |
| 'Half-empty beaches' | 'Half-empty beaches' |
| BBC News reporter Emily Unia, reporting from Sousse, said: "While I have been here I have felt safe - there is a fairly visible police presence in Sousse, people say that security has increased a lot. | |
| "Most large buildings like hotels and shops now have security arches and bag checks so they are taking their responsibilities very, very seriously. | "Most large buildings like hotels and shops now have security arches and bag checks so they are taking their responsibilities very, very seriously. |
| "But the truth is that the hotels and the beaches are half empty." | "But the truth is that the hotels and the beaches are half empty." |
| The Foreign Office says there are no direct flights between the UK and Monastir airport, to the south of Sousse, and Enfidah airport, to the north. | The Foreign Office says there are no direct flights between the UK and Monastir airport, to the south of Sousse, and Enfidah airport, to the north. |
| But there are daily Tunis Air flights from Tunis Carthage airport direct to London and indirect daily departures with European carriers. | But there are daily Tunis Air flights from Tunis Carthage airport direct to London and indirect daily departures with European carriers. |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We know our travel advice can have a knock-on effect on trade and political considerations, but we don't let this influence the advice we give. The safety of British nationals is our main concern. | A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We know our travel advice can have a knock-on effect on trade and political considerations, but we don't let this influence the advice we give. The safety of British nationals is our main concern. |
| "We are working closely with the Tunisians to understand the terrorist threat better and to help them to strengthen measures to protect tourists further. | "We are working closely with the Tunisians to understand the terrorist threat better and to help them to strengthen measures to protect tourists further. |
| "Our travel advice is under constant review and we will change it as soon as the security situation permits." | "Our travel advice is under constant review and we will change it as soon as the security situation permits." |
| Have you travelled to Tunisia recently? Would you consider going on holiday in Tunisia if the travel advice was changed? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Have you travelled to Tunisia recently? Would you consider going on holiday in Tunisia if the travel advice was changed? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |