Thomas Cook Bringing Tourists Home Due to Political Unrest in Gambia

Due to political unrest in Gambia, British global travel company Thomas Cook has started flying almost 1,000 customers out of the west African nation before the situation possibly deteriorates.

The political turmoil comes after the December presidential election in the country saw incumbent leader Yahya Jammeh refuse to give up his position after he lost to the challenger, Adama Barrow. Jammeh declared a 90-day state of emergency, just two days before he is scheduled to leave office.

According to The Guardian, the United Kingdom Foreign Office (FCO) is advising travelers to avoid visiting Gambia due to the possibility of military intervention following Jammeh’s refusal to leave his position.

Many residents in Gambia have started fleeing the country due to the possibility of the political unrest turning into an all-out war. As for the 985 Thomas Cook customers in Gambia, the company is implementing its contingency plan to bring them home.

In addition, Thomas Cook has canceled all of its scheduled flights to Gambia through Jan. 20, and has added extra service from Gambia back to the United Kingdom Wednesday to accommodate the rush of tourists departing the country.

As for the approximately 2,500 flight-only customers in the African nation, Thomas Cook is offering options for early flights home to avoid the possible turmoil. The early flights out could be imperative, as the FCO announced military intervention could result in the closure of Banjul International Airport on short notice.

“We are dispatching a special assistance team with our first flight from the UK to provide additional support at Banjul airport for our customers,” a Thomas Cook spokesperson said in a statement. “Our colleagues on the ground in the Gambia will proactively contact all customers on holiday with us as soon as possible to prepare for return to the UK.”

“You should follow events closely, take extra care, keep in regular contact with your tour operator and airline and continue to monitor travel advice and social media updates in case tensions rise as the current political deadlock continues,” the Thomas Cook statement continued.

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