However, it did reveal the shortcomings of how safety in holidays is assessed by travel companies and governments, and how that information is shared with prospective or existing Consumers.

In the midst of this emotional inquest, news had broken about how major Travel Companies were selling holidays to Egypt’s Sharm-El-Sheikh resort in November 2017, despite the fact that the UK’s Foreign Office is advising currently against ‘all but essential travel’ to that resort.

Coupled with these events, has been the evolving situation in the Middle-East with deadly attacks on Coptic Churches in Egypt and on the popular tourist attraction of St Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula.

With such a range of terrible events and their aftermath, underlined by the Manchester bombing, is it any wonder that Consumer Confidence is dented in the Travel Product? 

In the absence of any real leadership either from government or the travel industry, recent years has demonstrated that Consumers have had to become their own risk-assessors when considering a holiday destination. 

For holidaymakers who are struggling with this concept, I offer my 7 point action-plan to help you get into this new mindset:

1. Always start by looking at the UK Foreign Office Travel Advisories - I always check other countries advisories to their citizens and compare and contrast that information;
2. I always check out the local newspapers for my intended destination - many of them are written in English and they will often give you a general feel for how resorts are managed by the local authorities on crime, traffic and tourist activity - I also check out National and International TV Stations and compare and contrast stories about destinations; 
3. You should also look at Travel Review websites - read what other holidaymakers have to say - always check more than one site and do a compare and contrast of the information you find;
4. Checking for health is vitally important. You will sometimes find comprehensive health information in brochures or indeed in travel advisories, but I would recommend that you check out the NHS ‘Fit for Travel’ website and the CDC site - both have lists of destinations and have lots of health related information!
5. In recent years, angst amongst parents has risen over the operation of hotel/resorts ‘Kids Clubs! This is an important issue and is one that should also be pursued before departure by parents - they should challenge the hotelier or travel company to demonstrate that adequate child protection systems are in place and that recognised qualifications are held by all staff - they should understand and use the UN Code of Conduct to further their understanding or the challenges they make to travel companies!
6. Terror, Crime and Human Rights should occupy the minds of holidaymakers before booking their holiday. One way to establish the stability of any country and the levels of such activities is to examine the information within two revealing indices - I recommend that you read the World Happiness Report and the Global Peace Index, certainly before you ‘click and go’;
7. Some Consumers express concern about safety and the criminality surrounding human trafficking; this can be demonstrated through sexual, drugs, begging or other criminal activity. Whilst UK Foreign Office Travel Advisories should always be your starting point, I would recommend that intending holidaymakers research the country they intend to visit and the issues by visiting the Human Trafficking Foundation and also the United Nations Global Report which gives a clear breakdown of activity, country by country.

By following these simple steps, comparing and contrasting the information you gather, it will not only help you understand your intended destination better, but you will also be able to make important and informed value judgements for you or your family about security and destinations; you will not currently be able to get this from travel brochures!

My final piece of advice is aimed at governments and travel companies. It is not in my view, the role of Travel Consumers to be simply a ‘commodity' in the promotion of tourist trade between the UK and any country that offers a high degree of risk. 

That trade can surely only come when all the right measures and conditions are in place to guarantee their safety and it is indeed demonstrated that such measures not only work, but that there is a clear stability in any potentially difficult destination.

In my view, governments and industry need to work much harder - they have the specialist knowledge, that is why Consumers go to them for that important skill-set! Until the lessons of Tunisia have been learned and delivered, for the present, it seems that Travel Consumers will have to go that extra mile to establish important aspects of their own safety!