This might all sound a bit concerning if you have a holiday booked. One consideration is that Cyprus has long sat on the frontline of Middle Eastern wars without any impact on civilians or tourists. The RAF has been based there for 69 years. Yes, you may observe heightened airport security measures on arrival. You may also encounter a peaceful demonstration – there have been a number outside RAF Akrotiri. But at the time of writing the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not issued an advisory against travel to the island.
Potential risks
The FCDO has, however, this week added a note to all of its coastal North African and Middle Eastern advice pages. “Ongoing hostilities between Israel and Lebanon could escalate quickly and pose risks for the wider region,” it warns, adding that you should monitor the FCDO’s social media channels and other media, as the situation is “changing fast”.
Among those countries with the new note are some holiday favourites. Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), Marrakech (Morocco), Dubai (UAE) and Sousse (Tunisia), for example. But the FCDO still classifies these holiday destinations as safe to visit. If you do decide to cancel your trip, bear in mind that, because the Foreign Office has not issued any advice against travel, it is unlikely that you will receive a refund, nor will you be able to claim money back with your travel insurance company.
A final consideration, particularly for people travelling on longer eastbound journeys, is that on Tuesday several airlines were forced to adjust their flight routes at the last minute due to airspace closures in Iran, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and other countries. In total, 81 flights were diverted by 16 airlines, according to the airspace-tracking website Flightradar24, including a British Airways flight from London to Dubai which was diverted to Larnaca in Cyprus. It is likely there will be more disruption caused by airspace closures in the event of further missile strikes in the region.
As it stands, your half-term getaway is going ahead. And unless there is a major escalation in the Middle East, that will remain the case when late October rolls around. For peace of mind, set up an alert for your relevant FCDO advice page, and check the Telegraph’s dedicated advice pages to Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Dubai, which will be updated regularly.