The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) originally said tourists should be "vigilant" following the terrorist attack took place at Port El Kantaoui near Sousse on 26 June, when a gunman killed 38 foreign tourists, including 30 British nationals.
People were told they could continue to travel to the popular resorts, as long as they were vigilant. The UK FCO has been working with the Tunisian authorities who had massively stepped up security around hotels and major cities.
However, on Thursday, there was deep anger among tourists, as well as the Tunisian Government, when the FCO did a U-turn and ordered tourists to leave Tunisia completely. Tour operators are laying on extra flights Friday and Saturday as thousands of British tourists are forced to cut short their holidays amid the chaos.
The FCO has changed its travel advice for #Tunisia to advise against all but essential travel pic.twitter.com/gThfkH8Axc
— Foreign Office (FCO) (@foreignoffice) July 9, 2015
Many were shocked at the sudden change of mind, within two weeks of having been assured they would be able to continue to travel to Tunisia, where security was being tightened to protect them. The Tunisian Government has been keen not to damage its hugely important tourist industry.
Don't go to Tunisia, says Foreign Office. How quickly "we must never let the terrorists win" has become, "Yes, they've won."
— Nelson Jones (@Heresy_Corner) July 10, 2015
Michelle Ayres, from Suffolk, who is among those waiting to leave Sousse, told the BBC: "Everyone's disappointed here — and I speak for many people… but obviously they haven't got an option.
"We actually feel we'd be safer in the hotel than leaving it at the moment. We're worried about getting to the airport. Everybody's thinking 'What's going to happen? Is there a threat to us?' and that's why they're getting us out."
Tunisian Outrage
The Tunisian ambassador in London Nabil Ammar said he was outraged at the decision on mass evacuation. He told reporters Britain was playing into the hands of terrorists, and that its decision would reward them by devastating the Tunisian tourist industry.
— Tonii (@tonii_cowley) July 6, 2015
"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. 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," he told the Newsnight TV program.
The Tunisian Prime Minister was set call UK Prime Minister David Cameron Friday in response to the situation.
Travel companies Thomson, First Choice and Thomas Cook were all scrambling to lay on extra flights Friday and Saturday, chartering other aircraft to evacuate the approximately 3,000 tourists remaining in Tunisia. All three companies are offering alternatives to people booked on future holidays.
