UK warns travellers of Middle East demos in Cyprus

The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to British nationals living or visiting Cyprus, stating the heightened chance of demonstrations relating to the tension in the Middle East.

In the Safety and Security section of the advice, the Foreign Office warned, “Demonstrations may occur with little or no warning in cities.

“Events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories have led to heightened tensions in the region and demonstrations are likely”.

“Avoid any protests, political gatherings, or marches and leave the area if one develops.

“Local transport routes may be disrupted”.

Similar advice has been added recently for countries such as Turkey and Morocco, with the additional reference to the possibility of demonstrations turning violent.

There have been pro-Palestinian protests in Cyprus, but mostly peaceful and passed without incident, while there was also an event to remember the Jewish victims of the October 7 Hamas attacks.

An average of around 1.3 million UK tourists spend time in Cyprus annually, the largest demographic of the nearly four million who visit.

The UK government also advises people travelling to Cyprus, the closest European country to Israel, to be extra careful of time when flying back.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office website reads: “Due to the current situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the airport operator is advising passengers flying out of Larnaca and Paphos airports to arrive at their terminals at least 3 hours before their flight’s scheduled departure time.”

Hermes Airports, the operator of Larnaca and Paphos airports, says this advice is being given due to ‘additional security measures’ being put in place.