Alicia Kearns supports government’s anti-Greek island travel advice
A senior Conservative accuses travel firms of “profiteering” for continuing to fly tourists to Rhodes, where 10,000 British tourists are stranded. As flights to rescue holidaymakers arrive in the UK, pressure mounts on ministers to reconsider the official travel advice for Rhodes, allowing tourists to claim refunds through their travel insurance. Alicia Kearns, a Tory MP and chair of the Commons foreign affairs select committee, supports the call for the government to discourage travel to Rhodes but acknowledges their hesitation to diverge from other stances.
She made a clear differentiation between companies that proactively canceled package holidays and those that persisted in running flights.
“In the end, it’s essential for companies to take responsibility and acknowledge that people won’t be able to experience the holidays they originally booked,” she asserted.
“While I understand the government’s legal obligation to repatriate British citizens in distress, travel firms must fulfill their duties rather than prioritizing profits by flying tourists out and then leaving the government to handle their return in certain instances.”
Earlier on Monday, a Foreign Office minister refrained from advising people against travel and instead recommended contacting their tour operator. He emphasized that the fires were limited to a specific part of the island.
Andrew Mitchell also clarified that evacuations were not occurring in Corfu, despite reports of fires there as well. He explained that the affected areas in Corfu did not impact tourist regions.
Although Mitchell mentioned receiving 20 assistance requests in the morning, a spokesperson later stated that the Foreign Office would not continually update the number of British nationals seeking aid.
The UK government faced pressure from Labour MPs and the Liberal Democrats to promptly add Rhodes to the “red list,” advising against non-essential travel. Layla Moran, the Lib Dems’ foreign affairs spokesperson, highlighted that many families couldn’t claim insurance, resulting in financial penalties for choosing not to travel to the island.
Criticism arose over the delay in deploying government officials to assist stranded British tourists on Rhodes. Shadow foreign minister Stephen Doughty wrote to the Foreign Office seeking clarification on the timing of the decision to send the team. He also urged travel operators to offer flexibility to travelers with upcoming trips to affected areas, allowing them to consider alternative options.
Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell estimated that there were between 7,000 and 10,000 British tourists on Rhodes. When asked about official advice against traveling to the island, he advised holidaymakers to consult their tour operators. Mitchell clarified that while the fires affected only 10% of the island, tour companies were better equipped to advise whether individual vacations would be impacted.
When asked if he would personally go on holiday to Rhodes at this time, Mitchell stated he probably wouldn’t, but emphasized the importance of seeking advice from both official sources and tour operators for anyone who had already booked a trip.
