Majority would forgo free holiday to country deemed unsafe by FCDO
Gary NoakesNearly three-quarters of travellers would forego a free holiday if Foreign Office travel advice suggested a destination was unsafe, a new poll has found.
The survey of 4,000 people found 74% would decline to travel in these circumstances. Similarly, the poll, commissioned by Experience Travel Group and Aito, found 78% ranked safety and security as their top priority when booking a holiday.
The research also found 61% of Britons relied on the accuracy of the FCDO travel advice to make decisions. It followed an open letter published by Experience Travel Group condemning the FCDO travel advice for Sri Lanka, one of the countries campaigners claim has been branded with “overly harsh” warnings.
Is the FCDO’s travel advice still fit for purpose?
The campaigners said the FCDO’s impact was backed by the poll, which revealed 68% would go as far as cancelling a holiday in Sri Lanka if they read the guidance as it is currently phrased.
The poll also revealed British travellers are much more likely to seek out government advice when booking a holiday in Asia, with 73% saying they would do so. Comparatively, only 46% would do the same for a European trip.
Sam Clark, Experience Travel Group chief executive, said the FCDO advice was “stuck in the past”. “It is not reflective of the Sri Lanka of 2024, and it is concerning that government guidance that is relied on by so many to keep them safe could be so out of date and misleading,” he said.
“We understand the British public’s concerns regarding the advice for Sri Lanka. The wording is alarming, and you would, of course, assume the government advice is accurate – but it is not.”
FCDO guidance generally has been condemned by the travel providers, which argue it is often misleading and out of date, leaving holidaymakers ill-informed and harming economies of low-income countries that rely on tourism.
‘Fair, consistent, accurate’
Aito executive director Martyn Sumners added: “The FCDO guidance is clearly a leading factor in which countries are selected by holidaymakers. The advice has a huge impact on the individual traveller, the tourism industry, and the economy of the destination country.
"Ministers owe it to both travellers and international partners to make sure the guidance is fair, consistent and accurate.”
The campaigners said they would continue to press the Foreign Office to reform its approach to travel guidance. The FCDO previously declined to comment on Sri Lanka when approached by TTG, but said its advice was designed to allow “informed decisions”.
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