“If someone really does not have to go there, then they should not go,” said Donald Tusk, addressing tourists who, despite the conflict, traveled to the Persian Gulf region. The problem is that travel agencies did not allow customers to cancel previously purchased trips or change their dates. What is more, they continued to offer further departures even after the launch of Operation “Epic Fury.”
During a meeting of the Coordination Team on the situation in the Middle East, the head of government once again referred to the issue of the lack of evacuation of Polish citizens.
Donald Tusk also mentioned that he had received information from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, that many Poles were still deciding to travel to the Middle East.
“Still, quite large groups are choosing to travel to countries in this region for tourism. I want this to be clear – the Polish government cannot forbid anyone from flying to countries affected by conflict or threatened by conflict. Everything must result from people’s common sense,” the prime minister said.
He added that if someone “really does not have to go there, then they should not go.” “I know this may involve financial consequences, but it is worth being aware that soon those who fly today will tomorrow be waiting for state assistance and will want to be evacuated,” Tusk said.
Tusk Says One Thing, Travel Agencies Another
He also referred to cooperation with airlines and travel agencies in coordinating the evacuation of Poles vacationing in the Middle East who were caught off guard by the conflict.
The problem, however, is that despite the exchange of fire in the Middle East since Saturday, the Polish state has so far not undertaken the evacuation of Poles staying there. The first returns were organized on the night from Monday to Tuesday, and tourists and travelers stranded in the United Arab Emirates were hosted at the expense of the Middle Eastern state.
Some Middle Eastern countries popular among tourists were for a long time not covered by high-level travel warnings. Additionally, despite recommendations issued after the weekend for travelers, some travel agencies continued to offer customers trips “for leisure” with departures scheduled in the coming days. Moreover, for an extended period they refused to allow cancellations or rescheduling to another date.
On February 28, a U.S. operation against Iran began. “Epic Fury” has already struck approximately 2,000 targets.