Travel advisory pleases Australian travel agents

Does a subtle change to a government advisory make you more, or less, likely to travel?

The Australian Government this week lowered its travel advice for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from Level 4 "Do Not Travel" to Level 3 "Reconsider your need to travel."

The Australian Travel Industry Association, the umbrella body for licensed travel agents, is calling the subtle switch a win for Australian travellers.

The change matters most for Australians travelling through Middle Eastern hubs to reach Europe, the United Kingdom, India, and Africa.

More than 150,000 Australians have transited through the region in the past six weeks alone.

Throughout this period, ATIA says it has worked with the Australian Government, DFAT, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to ensure travel advice reflects both the risks on the ground and the practical realities facing Australian travellers.

ATIA says the Level 4 advisory "created real complications and confusion for travellers with brief airside transits, especially around insurance cover". The downgrade removes that.

Level 3 remains a high threshold and the Government’s advice is that non-essential travel should be avoided. Prudent when Israel continues to attack and provoke other nations in the Middle East.

DFAT continues to advise "Do Not Travel" to Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen. Some areas within Israel also remain "Do Not Travel."

ATIA recommends speaking with an ATIA-accredited travel agent or tour operator before booking.

"This is a sensible and welcome adjustment, and one ATIA has been seeking for some time," says ATIA CEO Dean Long/

"For many Australians, these hubs are the connecting points that get them to the UK, Europe, India and Africa. In seeking a travel advisory level commensurate with the reality of travel as a transiting passenger, ATIA was looking to ensure transiting passengers had all the benefits of travel insurance while on the ground.

“Additionally, with 150,000 Australians having safely travelled through those hubs, we wanted to ensure consumer confidence in Smartraveller’s advice remains optimum - travellers were telling our members that the “do not travel” advice for passing through just didn’t seem to hit the right balance.”

Mixed messages for would-be flyers

All flight restrictions in UAE airspace have now been lifted, with operations returning to normal, the General Civil Aviation Authority of UAE announced over the weekend.

“Our decision came following a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions, in coordination with the relevant authorities”, the aviation authority said in a post on X.

 

So are you ready to book a flight via the UAE with Emirates, Etihad, Qatar or other Middle Eastern airlines?

Not so fast if you are an Australian.

The Australian Government's https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ website is, as of today, still advising "Do Not Travel" to the volatile region.

Which means your travel insurance will almost certainly be invalid.

Here's what the official advice is:

"The situation in the Middle East remains volatile. There remains a risk of attacks and escalation. If you're in the UAE and want to leave, can secure a flight and it’s safe to travel to the airport, we continue to advise you to leave while commercial flights are available. UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, impacting flights at Abu Dhabi and Dubai international airports.

"Prioritise your safety, monitor developments closely and follow local authorities’ advice. Stay aware of your environment and avoid government, military or energy infrastructure, including oil production facilities. Avoid Israeli and US diplomatic missions and other locations associated with Israeli, Jewish and US interests. Follow local warning systems and, if warned of an imminent attack, move to an enclosed hardened shelter, ideally underground or close to ground level if available. If these are not available, seek an inner room without windows.

"Civilian infrastructure including hotels, roads, bridges, universities, energy infrastructure, including oil production facilities, water infrastructure and airports may continue to be targeted. There are widespread movement restrictions and other travel disruptions in the region. The UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, impacting flights at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports.

"We raised our level of advice for the UAE to do not travel on 28 February due to the volatile security situation in the region and military strikes. ‘Do not travel’ advice applies to transit and layovers in the UAE. Even if you don’t plan to leave the airport. If you travel to or transit through the UAE, you may be unable to leave. Your safety will be at risk. Your travel insurance may become invalid.

"Due to heightened security concerns, the Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai are closed. Online passport applications are open for Australians in the UAE."