By Simon Calder

 

LONDON, 01 Oct. - (ANA) - Cyprus, one of the Mediterranean's most popular islands is close to Lebanon, and a number of travellers with trips booked to Cyprus are looking at the map of the eastern Mediterranean with concern – and have contacted The Independent travel desk.

 

The popular Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa is barely 100 miles from the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Yet the Foreign Office does not have concerns about Cyprus. The official travel advice for the island has not been amended since June 2024, when it was “reviewed for style and accuracy”.

 

Under the heading “Regional risks” the only concern is the long-standing warning about travel to the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: “FCDO can only provide limited consular support if you are visiting areas in the north that are not under control of the Republic of Cyprus.”

 

In their travel advice to citizens on Cyprus, the US State Department and the Australia government express no alarms about the unfolding catastrophe in Lebanon.

 

“Overspill” from Lebanon to Cyprus looks extremely unlikely. Consider Syria, which has been in a civil war since 2011; even though the Mediterranean port of Latakia is only 70 miles from Cyprus, there has been no danger posed to the island as a result of that tragic conflict.

 

As the Foreign Office does not warn against travel to Cyprus, there is no prospect of being able to cancel a trip for a full refund. Neither will travel insurance be of help; the insurer will say that there is no reason not to go.

 

It is legally possible to transfer a proper package holiday to someone else – though time is short to do this before Saturday. Alternatively, the holiday company may possibly offer the chance to switch to a different destination; this is relatively low season, and there may be capacity elsewhere.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/01 October 2024 - - -