This incident, and the following travel ban, meant Thomas Cook had to react quickly. First, it had to get Customers out of Tunisia. Second, it had to rearrange holidays for customers who had already booked Tunisia as their destination for the summer and winter season, And third, It had to remove Tunisia from its product offer: a country it had been trading in for many years. During the travel ban imposed by the UK govern- ment, Thomas Cook was no longer able to trade in Tunisia. While this trading situation was outside its con- trol, Thomas Cook accepted it, was keen to show it is a caring company with tourist security and safety at the ILLUSTRATION 7.1 top of its agenda. The Tunisian Tourist Board stated that during 2014, the number of British travellers who visited Tunisia was Thomas Cook's withdrawal 425 000. Following the terrorist attack and the UK gov- and re-entry into Tunisia ernment's travel ban, the number fell dramatically to just 18 000 in 2016, In late summer 2017, the UK government's Foreign Thomas Cook, like many other travel companies, Office announced it had lifted the travel ban to Tunisia was presented with a crisis when on 26 June 2015 following developments in security and safety. Six in Port El Kataoui, near the busy holiday resort of months later, in February 2018, Thomas Cook began it Sousse, Tunisia, a student opened fire. The gunman first flights to Tunisia for three years. fired his Kalashnikov indiscriminately at holiday- makers sunbathing on the beach in front of the 5-star Questions Hotel Rul Imperia Marhaba. On the day 36 people were killed, 30 of whom were from Britain (another 1 What effect does terrorism have on tour operators person died some time later), 3 from Ireland, 2 from like Thomas Cook? Germany and 1 from each of Russia, Belgium and 2 How would the terrorism attack have affected Portugal. tourism-related businesses in Tunisia? The random attack, later connected to Islamic State (IS), was deemed to be one of the worst-ever terrorist 3 What other situations may prompt governments to attacks on tourists. Incidents like this add to the level of impose a travel ban on a country? geopolitical uncertainty that surrounds decisions made by governments and in this case travel-related compa- References: Morris, H. (2018) Thousands of holidaymakers nies and tourists. To avoid their citizens being at risk, are returning to Tunisia: But is it safe? Available from www. telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africa/tunisia/articles/ a travel ban to Tunisia was imposed by governments thomas-cook-tunisia-cheap-holidays-Is-it-safe/ (accessed including those of the UK, the Netherlands, Ireland, 3 April 2018); BBC (2017) Tunisia attacic What happened Denmark, Germany, France and Spain, Available from www.bbc.co.ukews/world-africa-33304897 (accessed 4 April 2018)
