UAE terror alert fails to impact UK market

The UK travel trade has reported no noticeable drop in sales to Dubai or the UAE following an official safety warning against travel to the UAE issued by the British Government on June 14.

A spokesman for tour operator Thomas Cook acknowledged that the company was aware of the alert but said unless there was direct communication warning British residents not to travel to the UAE it was "business as usual".

Agency giant Flight Centre echoed these sentiments claiming there had been no "noticeable reaction" from the British public following the bulletin and that sales for tickets to the region had remained unaffected.

A spokesperson for major agency chain Trail Finders said: "It takes a lot to put off the British traveller."

"We'll be continuing our service until we hear something further."

They were speaking to ATN after the British Embassy issued a warning that there was "a high threat from terrorism" in the UAE.

"We believe terrorists may be planning to carry out attacks in the UAE," it said.

"Attacks could be indiscriminate and could happen at any time, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers such as residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests."

The warning told Brits visiting the UAE that they should "maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places".

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