The Foreign Office has issued travel guidance for Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt amid the Middle East conflict.

The three nations are favoured holiday destinations among Brits, thanks to their sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, varied landscapes, and extensive coastal resorts. They also offer sunshine and warm weather from early Spring right through until Autumn, and are typically a budget-friendly option for those seeking a sun-drenched break.

Many Brits have already booked their getaways to Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt, whether that’s for a visit over Easter or during the summer holidays, or have plans to press ‘book’. However, the proximity of holiday hotspots to the conflict in the Middle East, rather than to other popular destinations, has made the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel guidance all the more crucial.

As of Tuesday, 10 March, the Foreign Office has not added Cyprus, Turkey or Egypt to its ‘no travel’ list. However, there have been several updates that Brits should be aware of. Here’s everything you need to know…

Cyprus

The latest update from FCDO on Thursday, 5 March, which remains in place today, warned that “terrorist attacks in Cyprus cannot be ruled out”. It read: “There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.”

The guidance notes that terrorist attacks “could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals.” Following the update, the FCDO said the UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.

Despite this, there is currently no advice against travel to Cyprus. However, the Foreign Office cautioned that the “regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption,” and that “no travel can be guaranteed safe.”

Turkey

The Foreign Office has advised against travel to certain areas of Turkey, “due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism”. This ‘do not travel’ warning applies within 10km of Turkey’s border with Syria, which was in place before the Middle East conflict.

However, there is no FCDO guidance against travel to any of the popular tourist destinations such as Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Izmir, which are 1500-1600km from the border with Iran.

There is also a nationwide warning of “high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals”. The FCDO said most of these attacks have taken place in southeast Turkey, Ankara and Istanbul.

It should be noted that similar warnings have been in place for a number of other countries long before the Iran war. In an update issued last week, the FCDO cautioned that the “regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption”.

Nevertheless, it does not advise against travel to other regions in Turkey, with most flights and holidays presently going ahead.

Egypt

As it stands, the Foreign Office “advises against all travel to parts of Egypt” and “against all but essential travel to parts of Egypt”. One caution in place is against travel to within “20km of the Egypt-Libya border, except for the town of El Salloum”, where the FCDO advises “against all but essential travel.”

There are also travel restrictions in force for other areas of Egypt, including North Sinai, the Northern part of South Sinai, the Eastern part of Ismailiyah Governorate, the Western Desert, the Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid.

The FCDO has also cautioned of a “heightened risk of regional tension” and “escalation that could lead to travel disruption and other unanticipated impacts” for Egypt. There is also a “high threat of terrorist attack” caution in place for Egypt, which was in force prior to the Middle East conflict.

Nevertheless, the Foreign Office does not advise against all travel to Egypt. They stated that around one million Brits travel to Egypt each year and “most visits are trouble-free.”

If you have a holiday planned, it’s advisable to stay in touch with your holiday provider, though they’re currently focused on those with immediate travel plans. However, due to the fluid nature of the situation, travel advice can change swiftly, so it’s crucial to check any restrictions before travelling or booking a holiday.

The above travel advice remains current as of Tuesday, 10 March, but it’s recommended to consult the latest Foreign Office advice for your destination before finalising any travel plans. You can visit the Foreign Office website for information on travel restrictions for each country.

Have you been impacted by travel disruptions? Email webtravel@reachplc.com