Novatours cancels trips to Jordan, considers changes to trips to Egypt

RIGA - Tour company Novatours has cancelled trips to Jordan due to security reasons, and the company is also considering changes to trips to Egypt, Liana Pudule-Indane, sales manager of Novatours, confirmed to LETA.

The company plans to resume trips to Jordan in March 2024, if the geopolitical situation in the region normalizes.

For customers who have planned a trip from Latvia to Jordan between November and the end of February, Novatours will provide the opportunity to choose an alternative travel option or postpone the trip to March.

Commenting on the trips to Egypt, Pudule-Indane said that the company is currently considering changes to this program as well. Novatours could announce possible changes next week.

"We continue to follow official sources and recommendations and monitor travelers' attitudes. In case of any changes to the travel plans, customers will be informed by our agents with whom the trip has been arranged," the Novatours spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, trips to Turkey are currently being organized as usual, Pudule-Indane said.

According to official information, the situation in the country is stable, no security threats have been reported by the authorities and Novatours resorts are located in safe tourist areas.

As reported, Palestinian terrorist group Hamas unexpectedly attacked Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people and taking around 200 hostages. Israel responded with a declaration of war against Hamas, followed by air strikes on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 3,400 Palestinians and injuring thousands of others.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry has also warned that the security situation in Turkey and Egypt is volatile, with a risk of protests or terrorism in some places. Latvian citizens are therefore urged not to visit the border areas of the countries concerned, to avoid mass gatherings and to avoid visiting religious sites during religious festivals. The ministry also urges people not to visit Lebanon and the Jordanian border area with Syria at this time.

In view of the current situation in Israel, the Latvian national airline airBaltic has cancelled all scheduled flights to and from Tel Aviv until January 1, 2024.

Novatours' turnover last year was EUR 40.94 million, which is 2.2 times more than in 2021, while the company's losses increased 2.2 times to EUR 380,910.

Novatours was registered in 2020 with a share capital of EUR 176,435, according to Firmas.lv. The company is part of the Lithuanian tour operator Novaturas Group, which operates in all three Baltic States. Novaturas shares are listed on the official list of the Vilnius Stock Exchange.