After the attacks on Easter Sunday with more than 250 dead in Sri Lanka, there are warnings of further violence - the TUI Group now offers holidaymakers the early return journey. More than 40 swords and knives and army uniforms were discovered on Friday in a mosque in the capital Colombo.

The Foreign Ministry said the security situation in Sri Lanka remains "tense throughout the country". "There is always the danger of further attacks," it says in the tightened security notice of the authority to the country. She advises against unnecessary trips to Colombo - as well as increased vigilance on the part of local travelers.

TUI responded. There are currently around 150 clients in Sri Lanka - they would be actively contacted by the tour guide to arrange early return, TUI said. All trips to Sri Lanka are canceled up to and including 31 May.

Customers who have booked a trip to the island by 31 May may rebook free of charge to another destination or cancel their trip. The TUI Group also includes organizers such as Airtours, L'tur, Gebeco or Berge & Meer.

A spokeswoman for the German Travel Association (DRV) said that so far TUI is the only German tour operator who has canceled travel to Sri Lanka and is actively calling for an early return journey. According to rough estimates, there are about 5000 German tourists on the island, as the spokeswoman said.

Free and short-term cancellations possible

Other companies have told their customers to fly back early. They offer free cancellations of booked travel. According to DRV, there are only a few requests yet. So far, these offers apply:

  • Alltours customers can cancel a holiday free of charge until the 30th of April, a spokesman said.
  • With FTI there is this possibility for arrivals up to and including April 28, announced a spokeswoman. For holidaymakers who arrive later, check transfer options.
  • Travelers with Thomas Cook can rebook or cancel bookings with arrivals free of charge until May 2, a spokeswoman said. For later arrivals, check inquiries individually.
  • Studiosus offers free bookings or cancellations for bookings departing in April and May. For all trips that start later in the year, there is currently no possibility. According to the current state of knowledge, it is assumed that all trips starting from summer can be carried out according to plan. If necessary, Studiosus makes daily adjustments to the travel program , the organizer said for study and adventure trips. Observe the development in the country with the utmost attention.
  • At DER Touristik the departure date is decisive: Trips with departure until May 6 can be rebooked or canceled free of charge. DER Touristik has also set up the excursion program to the capital Colombo, where the three luxury hotels concerned and one of the three churches are located. Traveling through the country would take place, said a spokeswoman.

From the point of view of the travel lawyer Paul Degott vacationers can generally cancel package tours to Sri Lanka, which would start in the coming weeks, free of charge. Fear of terror alone is not sufficient justification. But in Sri Lanka now came several circumstances: The situation on the ground is uncertain - emergency regulations have been introduced and whether further attacks threaten, is unclear.

Anyone who has booked a trip to the country later in the year, such as during the autumn holidays, is advised by Degott to follow developments closely and to read the travel advice issued by the Federal Foreign Office. These are constantly updated. He also recommends contacting the organizer. "They have people on the ground and more accurate information, so you can ask, 'What does the situation look like from your point of view?'"

Warning about attacks against mosques

The US embassy in Colombo had already warned against plans to attack and warned them to avoid houses of worship from Friday to Sunday. Also tourist destinations, airports, hotels, hospitals, restaurants, markets and other public places could be destinations, it said. Countries like Israel and the UK have issued travel warnings for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's police said that Islamists, according to intelligence sources, wanted to attack Sufi mosques - a current in Islam with mystical traditions. Radical Islamists regard Sufist followers as enemies to other religions because of their tolerance. The security measures at Sufisten mosques were increased according to police. However, only in a few Islamic places of worship did Friday prayers take place.

The jihadist militia Islamic State (IS) claimed the deeds for themselves, while the Colombo government blamed a local Islamist group. After the attacks, many luxury hotels in Colombo had limited the number of bookings and increased their security.

Sri Lanka has been booming for years as a long-haul destination. According to information from the Foreign Office, in 2018 just under 157,000 German tourists traveled to the South Asian country - a good 20 percent more than in the previous year.