Will Asian nations’ UK travel warnings over anti-immigrant riots deter tourists?

The impact of travel advisories will depend on how the UK prevents riots, which have so far occurred in places tourists ‘rarely visit’

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Tourists take a selfie at Piccadilly Circus in London. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 8:00am, 8 Aug 2024Updated: 11:19am, 8 Aug 2024

Asian travellers are likely to be cautious about visiting Britain, after far-right riots resulted in travel warnings ahead of a pivotal time of the year in which families typically make holiday plans, analysts said.

Violence erupted in northwest England’s Southport after the stabbing deaths of three young girls and injuries to 10 others led to the spread of disinformation that the attacker was an immigrant and falsely identified the suspect as a Muslim.

Far-right supporters and anti-immigration extremists have attacked hotels housing asylum seekers in two cities and have clashed with police, leading to hundreds of arrests.

Riot police face protesters in Bristol. The unrest has prompted some Southeast Asian nations, including Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia, to issue travel advisories. Photo: AFP

The unrest, the worst in years, has prompted some Southeast Asian nations, such as Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia, to issue travel advisories. India, Australia and Hong Kong have also cautioned their citizens visiting Britain.

“The concern for Muslim visitors is that this will stoke broader anti-Islamic sentiment beyond the rioting. This is a tough test for the new government, and Britain’s reputation for racial diversity and tolerance is something it will take strong legal steps to uphold,” said Gary Bowerman, the Kuala Lumpur-based director of tourism analysis firm Check-in Asia and co-host of travel podcast The Southeast Asia Travel Show.

“Asian travellers prioritise personal safety, especially for long-haul travel. Memories linger regarding attacks on Asian citizens during the early days of Covid in Europe and North America,” Bowerman said.

European destinations are seeking to rebuild their Asian visitor markets, with China’s Golden Week in October and the Christmas and New Year holidays, he highlighted.

China’s Golden Week, which begins on October 1 with the country’s National Day, is one of the busiest travel periods globally as millions of Chinese travel domestically and internationally.