To feel guilty about going on holiday to Jordan/Mount Sinai

[Twodogsonthecouch]

I’m due to fly to Jordan on 28th March for 8 days and then on to Mount Sinai and Dahab for 4 days. I’m really looking forward to seeing Petra, Wadi Rum the Dead Sea as well as climbing Mount Sinai and snorkelling in the Red Sea.
Obviously I will be following government advice on whether or not it is safe to go so that’s not really my question. It’s more that I feel funny about going on holiday to somewhere where it must be very emotive and scary for those living there. It feels somehow voyeuristic.
Is this just me being silly and overthinking it?

It might be scary for you too - my family went recently and could hear shells going off it's that close.

You would be under the same threat as the residents, so its not voyeuristic.

Er, you would be mad.

Guilty? You're going to need to take FO advice.

My concern wouldn't be about going on the holiday. It would be about how realistic you are about getting stranded there for a period of time.

Do you have sufficient funds for this possibility and do you have an understanding employer.

As it stands theres a fair chance you won't be going if the situation with Hezbollah and Israel gets worse.

Flights to Cyprus by easyJet just got cancelled.

There was a terrorist bomb in Dahab when I was there 20 odd years ago. Haven't been back to Egypt since but the locals are totally used to it and make their living from tourism, so go if you are happy with the risk.

I currently have a great niece who works as a lecturer AI in the UEA in a presdigious university. She went out in September and loves the lifestyle. My sister (her grandmother) is frantic with worry so I called her for a chat yesterday. She takes the attitude that the local people have to put up with the inconvenience so she is in no greater danger than they are. She has decided not to evacuate if she is offered it. She (and her wife who also works there) went out to earn enough money to put down on a house and are obviously earning a great deal more there than they could here. Like me she has travelled widely in the ME and loves the people and culture. She says that if her colleagues all get evacuated and she stays then that increases her chances of advancement. Why should she abandon all her possessions and come back with one suitcase on an overpriced evacuation flight? I would probably take the same decision myself if like her I was child free.

We're due to go on the same day. Wonder if we're on the same flight? I can't do anything but wait and see. We're holding off on booking the rental car although flights and hotels are booked.

I went to Jordan in September. My experience was that locals were so happy to see us there, tourism has been decimated for them since the war over the river. It was emotive going to the East Bank, but for the most part they were muddling through life as normal.

Assuming there's no FO advice to stay away, I'd love to visit Jordan. I have a Jordanian colleague, and he is always going on about what a beautiful place it is. It's not voyeuristic - they are desperate for tourists to come.

But I would probably re-assess in a couple of weeks, considering world events. Even if is safe you may end up stranded if things progress in the wrong direction. Just worth noting, if you decide to cancel the holiday but there is no restriction in place, and the holiday goes ahead, you probably wouldn't be entitled to any refunds.

I’ve got a close friend who’s Cypriot and has recently been there for family stuff. Spoke to him yesterday and he’s resigned to not going until it’s safe. He’s also rightly concerned for family and friends who live there.

I’m not expressing myself well. As I said I am obviously going to follow government policy.
However I think I might feel guilty about being off having this wonderful experience while people in the area are stressed about their world and their future

How will it be.a wonderful experience if you end up dodging missiles yourself?

You cant worry about everyone in the world. I would assess on personal safety grounds and make your decision accordingly. No need to be guilt tripped about whats happening to others. As you say the locals have to suck it up.

If the conflict continues, or even gets worse, you won't be there. Don't go to a war zone.

I completely understand I won’t be there if flights aren’t going or if the government advice changes. What I’m trying to figure out is how I feel about going as things are this minute. As people say, the Jordanian people need and welcome tourists in general. But is it hedonistic to go on holiday to somewhere where people are unsafe in neighbouring areas. Or is it self indulgent to cancel if it’s not necessary and rob people of their livelihood

I grew up in ROI during the troubles but lived at the other end of the country so wasn’t ever unsafe. I know how distance can change regional tensions and also how our lives carried on as normal. I’m just wondering if this is similar

You are giving this far too much head space for a trip that is highly unlikely at the moment. And good luck getting travel insurance!

Yes, there's no point vexing about it. You may not be able to go

Side note: Petra is INCREDIBLE.

And no this is nothing like the troubles in N Ireland! Come on.
They were not using long range missiles and it would not have been a holiday destination.

I have travel insurance already. Again as I keep saying I will not be going if it’s not advised by the foreign office.
I agree I’m giving it head space. I would argue that it’s too much headspace. I think most people in this position would be thinking about the options/sensitivities

It’s very like it… Jordan is not currently at war or being bombed and is definitely a holiday destination.
where I lived as a child was also very much a holiday destination even during the troubles. As I said, it was the other end of the country

Did you get travel insurance before Friday? If so id read up on the small print.

I don't get this post at all.

I think anyone who has anything booked for at least the next few months, in any part of that area, including countries that aren't involved at all so far like Egypt, would be crazy to go now.