Australian travel industry urging government to scrap 'unnecessary' Middle East warnings
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Travel experts are pushing back against the Australian government’s advice for Australians to not travel through the Middle East.
The Australian travel industry maintains that it is still safe to transit through hubs like Dubai and Doha, wanting Smartraveller warnings to be downgraded.
Australia's peak travel industry body is urging the government to update its advice around travel to the Middle East. AP
Dean Long, CEO of Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), told Today this morning they want the government to drop its ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings to the Middle East.
Currently, the UAE and Qatar are both listed with Level 4 warnings, which discourage passengers from even just transiting through the airport – a level which Dean says is “unnecessary”.
Since the high alert was instated, “over 150,000 Aussies have gone through the Middle East with no issues,” he said.
“We don’t want people to holiday in the Middle East, we want them to transit through, with full travel insurance.”
Dean said the Level 4 rating means most Australians who transit through these hubs are not insured while in the country, even if they never leave the airport.
Travellers may not be covered by travel insurance when going through hubs like Doha and Dubai. Supplied
“It increases the level of anxiety that we don’t need for those transiting passengers.”
If the warning is downgraded to a Level 3 – which would still dissuade holidaying in these countries, but allow for airport transits – more Australians would be fully covered for their trips.
Say, for example, you rolled your ankle or got sick and needed medical attention at the airport. In a Level 4 country, you likely wouldn’t be covered by your travel insurance, Dean said.
Most of the Middle East remains on the Australian government's 'Do Not Travel' list, including the major stop over hub of Doha. Smart Traveller
A recent Finder survey revealed 26 per cent of Aussies say they have cancelled or postponed a trip due to the war in the Middle East.
Aussies still flying despite warnings
Meanwhile, some Aussies have ignored the warnings and kept their travel plans in place.
Tony Sergo, 65, from regional NSW, flew to Europe from Sydney via Dubai for a two-month holiday with his wife Kath earlier this year.
“For us to cancel and rebook would have been huge financial loss, so why do it,” he told nine.com.au.
“The risk to me was small so away we went.”
He said Dubai Airport was open as usual, and they were “not anxious at all”.
“In my mind Emirates are not going to risk their personnel, aircraft or reputation by operating in any unsafe environment,” he said.
Some Aussies are ignoring the warnings. Getty
What will travel insurance cover?
The Insurance Council of Australia warned travellers war is a standard exclusion on most travel policies, so any Aussies who go to the affected countries will not be covered.
“Travellers should also monitor the latest Smartraveller advice, as travelling against a ‘do not travel’ advisory will likely affect coverage,” a council spokesperson previously told nine.com.au.
Aussies with bookings via the Middle East are advised to contact their airline or travel agent before cancelling.
