Conde Nast Traveler Editor on Istanbul: “I’d Go Again Tomorrow”

Conde Nast Traveler today ran an interesting article that travel agents might want to share urging travelers not to exclude Istanbul from their itineraries.

Following a deadly suicide attack in one of Istanbul’s main tourist attractions yesterday that killed 10 people and injured 15, the article offers tips on how to remain safe—in Istanbul or anywhere in the world.

Among its suggestions are many of the same ones we’ve printed so many times this year, including avoiding the most famous tourist attractions, enrolling in the U.S. Smart Traveler Enrollment Program that alerts the U.S. embassy of your location, and planning ahead in terms of additional security check time.

At the New York Times Travel Show last week, meanwhile, tour operators on the USTOA panel touched on the ongoing issue of travel to the Middle East in a time of terrorism.

Travel to the region remains strong, said Isram Travel, and the phone has been ringing steadily even last week. Still, noting that his company has returned to running tours to Egypt, Insight Vacations president Phil Cappelli said, “the challenge of Egypt is not the people who are calling, but the people who are not.”

“Our jobs as travel agents are huge,” said Tauck president Jennifer Tombaugh. “The world needs us.”

Squaremouth.com, meanwhile, noted that the U.S. Department of State has officially declared the Istanbul bombing to be an act of terrorism, so travelers may be able to cancel upcoming trips if they wish.

For more on the role of travel agents when dealing with destinations known to have terrorist activity, see the column by Paul Ruden.

Pic:Erhan Sasmaz