UK Lifts Warning On Travel To Tunisia

The United Kingdom (UK) yesterday lifted a warning against travel to Tunisia that had been in place for two years after an attack on a tourist resort in which several british nationals were killed.

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) yesterday said it no longer advised against travel to Tunisia, except for parts of the south and interior and certain areas near the borders with Algeria and Libya. Noting that there remained a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation, the office said it had implemented additional security measures .

UK MP Alistari Burt announced the change in stance on Twitter yesterday, tweeting "Change to @foreignoffice #Tunisia travel advice after careful review. UK visitors should still check before they go."

The country has been in a state of emergency since November 2015 when a police bus was targeted in a suicide attack. That had been extended repeatedly, most recently on June 14 when it was extended for four months, the FCO said.

The no-go areas include the Chaambi Mountains National Park and the designated military operations zones of Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma and Mount Mghila, a militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba, the Libyan border area north of Dhehiba and the town of Ben Guerdane and immediate surrounding area.

The office also advises against all but essential travel to areas south of, and including, the towns of Nefta, Douz, Médenine and Zarzis; within 30km of the border from the town of Jendouba southwards and the the governorate of Kasserine.

"Terrorists are still very likely to try to carry out attacks in Tunisia. Security forces remain on a high state of alert in Tunis and other places. You should be vigilant at all times, including around religious sites and festivals" the FCO statement warns. (Map) - Town