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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/10/uk-tourists-fly-home-tunisia-criticises-travel-advice-sousse
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| UK tourists fly home as Tunisia criticises new travel advice | UK tourists fly home as Tunisia criticises new travel advice |
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| British tourists are being flown back from Tunisia despite the country’s ambassador telling the UK government it is playing into the hands of terrorists by tightening travel advice for the North African country. | |
| The diplomatic row between the UK and Tunisia was sparked by the Foreign Office’s advice to British tourists on Thursday to leave immediately, with a warning against all but essential travel to the country following intelligence that a terrorist attack was “highly likely”. | The diplomatic row between the UK and Tunisia was sparked by the Foreign Office’s advice to British tourists on Thursday to leave immediately, with a warning against all but essential travel to the country following intelligence that a terrorist attack was “highly likely”. |
| Related: Tunisia massacre: funeral for first victims to take place | Related: Tunisia massacre: funeral for first victims to take place |
| The move came a fortnight after 30 Britons were among 38 tourists shot dead by Seifeddine Rezgui on the beach in Sousse. The terrorist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. | |
| Tunisia’s prime minister, Habib Essid, said he would telephone David Cameron on Friday to respond to the change in travel advice, while Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian ambassador to the UK, said the decision was “what the terrorists want”. | Tunisia’s prime minister, Habib Essid, said he would telephone David Cameron on Friday to respond to the change in travel advice, while Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian ambassador to the UK, said the decision was “what the terrorists want”. |
| “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,” Ammar told BBC Newsnight. “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.” | “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,” Ammar told BBC Newsnight. “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.” |
| Extra flights to the UK have been laid on to evacuate up to 3,000 people on package holidays and 300 independent travellers believed to be in Tunisia. | Extra flights to the UK have been laid on to evacuate up to 3,000 people on package holidays and 300 independent travellers believed to be in Tunisia. |
| After the government changed its travel advice, Thomson and First Choice immediately cancelled all flights to Tunisia for the summer season. | After the government changed its travel advice, Thomson and First Choice immediately cancelled all flights to Tunisia for the summer season. |
| They said that “as a precautionary measure we have taken the decision to repatriate all British Thomson and First Choice staff currently working in Tunisia within the next 24 hours”. | They said that “as a precautionary measure we have taken the decision to repatriate all British Thomson and First Choice staff currently working in Tunisia within the next 24 hours”. |
| Thomas Cook, which cancelled all future bookings to Tunisia up to 31 October, said it was putting on an extra flight on Friday to bring its customers back to Manchester. | Thomas Cook, which cancelled all future bookings to Tunisia up to 31 October, said it was putting on an extra flight on Friday to bring its customers back to Manchester. |
| Monarch Airlines said it was arranging to repatriate all customers in resorts “back to the UK as soon as possible”. Flights had been organised to take them out of Tunisia by the weekend. The airline was cancelling all flights to Enfidha, in Tunisia, for the rest of the summer with “immediate effect”. | |
| Related: Tunisia beach attack: the victims | Related: Tunisia beach attack: the victims |
| The Association of British Travel Agents said any holidaymakers in Tunisia should contact their travel company to confirm arrangements for returning home. | The Association of British Travel Agents said any holidaymakers in Tunisia should contact their travel company to confirm arrangements for returning home. |
| The Sousse massacre came just months after 22 people, mostly tourists, were killed at the National Bardo Museum outside Tunis in March. | The Sousse massacre came just months after 22 people, mostly tourists, were killed at the National Bardo Museum outside Tunis in March. |
| Tunisia has introduced several security measures, including arming tourist police, since the Sousse attack. But the Foreign Office said it did not believe they provided adequate protection and advised against all but essential travel. | |
| The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said: “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.” | The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said: “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.” |