News / Foreign Policy

Tunisia slams UK travel advice

Friday, 10 July 2015 9:14 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 10 July 2015 11:00 AM ]

Tunisian policemen patrol the beach in Sousse, Tunisia, where 38 tourists were killed. (AFP photo)

A diplomatic row is escalating between the UK and Tunisia after London issued a travel advice to British tourists to leave the North African country immediately.

The travel advice came two weeks after 38 tourists, including 30 Britons, were shot dead by an ISIL terrorist on the beach in the resort city of Sousse.

Tunisian ambassador to the UK has criticized the decision, saying the British government is playing into the hands of the terrorists by tightening the travel advice.

“By damaging the tourism, by having foreigners leaving the country, they damage the whole sector and put so many people out of work and on the streets… Hotels have to close and this is an important industry. One of the sources of terrorism is lack of hope. It is not the only motor of it but it is one of the very important origins,” Nabil Ammar was quoted as saying by the British media.

Meanwhile, Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid has said he would call David Cameron to respond to London’s decision to tighten travel advice.

Tunisia has already introduced several security measures, including arming tourist police, since the terrorist attack.

But Britain says Tunisian government has not done enough to protect British tourists. London has called on all British nationals to leave Tunisia immediately.

Tourists arrive at Monastir airport as they prepare to leave Tunisia on June 28. (AP photo)

Some 3,500 British tourists are believed to be in Tunisia.British authorities plan to repatriate the travelers within 48 hours.

Extra flights to the UK have been arranged to evacuate the British nationals.

Outbound flights to Tunisia have been cancelled by some of the UK’s biggest tour operators including Thomas Cook, Thomson and First Choice, who are also planned to evacuate their staff from the country.

London has said there is no "specific or imminent" terrorist threat in Tunisia. However, it has advised against all but essential travel to the North African country.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond (AFP photo)

“While we do not have any information suggesting a specific or imminent threat, since the attack in Sousse the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, leading us to the view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely,” UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said.

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