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Biman Mukherji

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.

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.


The impact on visitor arrivals will depend on “how effectively the British government can contain the spread of the violence”, Bowerman said.
“So far, the rioting has occurred mostly in places that tourists rarely visit, although there have been flashpoints in cities like London and Bristol,” Bowerman noted.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised communities that they will be safe, while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has pledged that the government would support the police with additional costs for officers working overtime.
More riot police are being put on standby and neighbourhood policing patrols stepped up.
Britain’s crime agency and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are also reportedly investigating the role of foreign state actors in spreading misinformation and disinformation about the riots.

Safety matters
“Public perception about a destination is a critical factor in tourism, especially in the post-pandemic era,” Bowerman said, adding that consumer surveys in Asia showed safety and security as priorities when choosing or recommending a travel destination.
The fallout on travel may be limited if the violence is contained, as “tourists have a short memory”, said Wolfgang Georg Arlt, director of Germany-based Meaningful Tourism Centre.
“If more serious things are not happening, it will be just a short dip in arrivals,” he said, but that safety and security will be a priority.
“Everybody is concerned about safety and security. What is more specific is that this also includes being disrespected and treated with racist overtones, especially for Chinese outbound travellers.”

Segments of travellers from Asia may not be too concerned about the violence as long as it does not spread to cities like London, says Rajeev Kohli, joint managing director of New Delhi-based Creative Travel.
The riots also occurred at the end of school holidays in India, he said, adding that the Indian government travel advisory for Britain has not affected consumer sentiment.
Indian travellers typically plan a minimum of six months or more for long-haul destinations like Britain, which ranks among top five destinations for Indian travellers.
Riots also occur sporadically in India, so Britain’s social unrest may not scare travellers unless it affects places they plan to visit, Kohli says.


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

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

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

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

Tourists visit Buckingham Palace in London. Photo: AP

A masked protester throws a can of beer towards riot police in Bristol. Photo: AFP

UK anti-immigrant riots ramp up risks for undocumented Vietnamese seeking better pay

Fireworks are thrown towards police during an anti-immigration demonstration in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, on Sunday. Photo: dpa

Travellers and freight container lorries arrive at the Port of Dover ferry terminal on the southeast coast of England on July 31. Hostility is on the rise over fears that Britain is being “overrun” by migrants through open borders. Photo: AFP

British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (left) looks at flower tributes left at the scene of a stabbing attack on Hart Street in Southport, Britain, on July 30. Photo: EPA-EFE

A screenshot of a video on Vietnamese TikTok of undocumented migrants dragging luggage through an area of England. Photo: TikTok

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People gather in front of the parliament building on Monday during celebrations after the resignation of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Hasina. Photo: dpa

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during an event in February. Hasina fled in a helicopter on Monday as protests engulfed her government. Photo: Reuters

Foreign workers from Bangladesh work at a factory in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Shutterstock

People gather near charred vehicles on a street in the aftermath of the prime minister’s resignation, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

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An officer tries to restrain a protester in Liverpool on August 3. The demonstrations were triggered by a mass stabbing incident. Photo: AFP

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


The impact of travel advisories will depend on how the UK government contains violence and prevents riots, which have so far occurred in places less popular with tourists.
