Three in four British holidaymakers 'avoiding Muslim countries'

Survey reveals terror attacks in Tunisia earlier this year are a huge deterrent for British travelers

Three in four British holidaymakers have said they are actively avoiding visiting Muslim countries following terrorist attacks in Tunisia, according to a new survey.

The survey, carried out for Travelzoo, a discount holiday website in the UK revealed that the ongoing refugee crisis and fatal terror attack on tourists in Tunisia have directly impacted and influenced how people plan their foreign holidays.

Of the 2,000 British adults who took part in the survey, three quarters admitted that they were actively avoiding Islamic countries when deciding where to travel.

Read: 27 dead in Tunisia tourist resort attack

Attempts by refugees to cross into the UK via the Channel Tunnel, have led to suspension and delays which have put a further 73 per cent of respondents off using the route which is also used by the Eurostar train.

Further, the terror attack in Tunisia earlier this year, in which 30 Britons were shot dead by a gunman on a beach is a huge deterrent for those planning or booking a holiday anywhere abroad, the survey found.

Over half of those surveyed said they felt confused and overwhelmed by trying to pinpoint safe destinations, while almost a third said they were not aware which countries were put on high alert by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for British tourists.

Meanwhile, half of the travelers said they would now choose to travel to destinations they may not have previously chosen to visit but which they believed to be safer.

According to Yeganeh Morakabati, an Academic n Risk and Tourism at Bournemouth University, said that the events f the summer have discouraged Britons from venturing abroad during the cool, wet summer.

"This is particularly true, at least in the short term, for some of the previously popular tourist destinations amongst British tourists," she said.

She added, "What is clear from the research is that the relative levels of risk perception have increased uncertainty and this has left the door open to fear. As a result British travelers are finding it increasingly difficult to decide on the safest destination for a holiday abroad."

Read: Muslim city named world’s best city by Trip Advisor

A spokesperson for Tavelzoo commented on the survey saying, "It's clear that after a turbulent year with many high-profile incidents in tourist destinations, safety and security is paramount for British people making choices about where to travel to for the rest of 2015 and into 2016."

"Winter-sun holidays for British tourists have typically been to the Canaries or the North Africa region, where the short flight time and guaranteed heat holds enormous appeal. The Canaries are looking popular again this year, however we know people are actively avoiding North Africa, opting instead for destinations they believe are safer. Islamic countries in particular are causing potential British visitors concern," the spokesperson concluded.

This article originally appeared on Times of India