The FCDO stopped short of advising against all but essential travel to Rhodes and Corfu despite Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell saying he would not holiday there.
Speaking during a House of Lords debate on Tuesday (25 July), Baroness Angela Smith of Basildon (Labour) said: “When the minister at the FCDO was asked whether he would go to Rhodes on holiday, he admitted that he would not travel there.
“The government’s lack of advice is not helpful to those who are not sure whether they should fly this week, or what the financial consequences could be.”
Conservative peer Patrick Stopford, the Earl of Courtown, responded: “Our travel advice is focused on ensuring the safety of British nationals and is designed to give people the detail they need to make an informed decision. Of course, our travel advice is always under review.
“I had a call with the department earlier this morning [Tuesday] and the majority of the island is not affected by these fires. As I have reiterated time and again, the travel advice is kept under constant review.
“At the moment, there are no plans for [government-led] repatriation; it is up to the tour operators to bring back our holidaymakers.”
Baroness Jacqueline Foster of Oxton (Conservative), a former British Airways employee, warned: “I spent many decades in the aviation and travel industry, and we ought to think carefully about this, notwithstanding that these sorts of episodes have taken place for many years.
“We should also give credit to the airlines and tour operators, because it is difficult for those on the ground to try to assess the situation; until now, they have done an extremely good job. It is extremely terrifying for tourists who are there, but proper support from the Foreign Office and correct information, which should be updated at all times, should help in these situations.”
Courtown replied: “I can confirm that there have been discussions at senior levels with the travel industry on this issue.” Transport secretary Mark Harper revealed late on Monday (24 July) he had met with Jet2holidays, Tui, easyJet, British Airways and Ryanair to discuss the situation in Rhodes.
’Use it or lose it’
The debate came after travel dominated the front pages of Tuesday’s national papers, as well as TV and radio bulletins, and following comments from Which? Travel editor Rory Boland highlighting the "use it or lose it" dilemma facing holidaymakers.
"Without a Foreign Office warning against travel to the affected regions, travellers who don’t want to go but are refused flexibility to rebook are likely to be left holding the bill for acting sensibly, and may be unable to claim on their travel insurance.
"While it is positive to see some airlines and tour operators making the sensible decision to offer customers refunds or the opportunity to rebook free of charge, no holidaymaker should be forced to choose between losing their money and travelling into a natural disaster zone.
“It would be indefensible for holiday companies to cash in on travellers who sensibly decide not to travel, and more airlines and holiday companies must show flexibility.”
Jet2holidays, easyJet holidays and Tui have pre-emptively cancelled holidays departing for much of the rest of the week, while offering some flexibility with regards to impending departures over the coming days – albeit while each taking their own stance.
A FCDO advisory against all but essential travel is typically taken to be the trigger whereby travel to a destination covered by such an advisory would invalidate any travel insurance policy, and is usually the point at while airlines and operators suspend operations to a specific destination.
