NEW YORK -- Clients who wish to travel to Libya with Travcoa must
be "extremely flexible and able to roll with whatever," according
to Travcoa president Tom Stanley.
"The ban could be reinstated," he said. "Agents need to be
honest with customers -- there's no room for flowery marketing
language with this. And tour group participants need to be aware of
the conditions under which they would be traveling."
For example, Stanley said, "There's a high number of oil
industry professionals already in the country, and there's great
demand for accommodations.
"If a government delegation comes in unexpectedly, the tour
group could be bumped to another hotel. And clients need to be
comfortable taking cash with them -- no U.S.-issued credit cards
are accepted in Libya."
The Libyan government will "closely scrutinize" the visa
applications of U.S. tourists, he said, and it reserves the right
to withhold visas. At the least, travelers should expect the visa
process to take about a month.
"And it's important that people remember that this is not a
destination for political debate," Stanley said. "We are coming in
as newly invited guests. We need to be gracious and polite, and
want to observe and learn."
To contact reporter Donna Tunney, send e-mail to [email protected].
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For more details on this article, see Operators rush to fill Libya void.
Libya: What travelers need to know
Location: North Africa, on the Mediterranean
Sea, west of Egypt
Population: 5.2 million
Language: Arabic
Religion: Sunni Muslim
Time zone: GMT + two hours
Capital: Tripoli, population about 1 million.
Climate: Desert with hot, dry summers.
Currency: Libyan dinar (1 dinar = U.S. 75 cents;
U.S. $1 = 1.33 dinars); credit cards and travelers checks are not
widely accepted, and ATMs/cash machines are nonexistent, so
bringing cash is necessary. There are severe penalties for
black-market cash exchange.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz; outlets use
two-pin European- or three-pin U.K.-type plugs.
Transport:
• Air: Libyan Arab Airlines flies from London but
serves mainly domestic routes; British Airways, Royal Jordanian,
Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines offer connections from Europe,
Middle East. International airport is located in Tripoli.
• Sea: Swan Hellenic Cruises frequents Libya on
some Mediterranean itineraries.
• Rail: There is no rail system.
• Car: Bus, taxi service available from Tunisia,
Algeria, Niger, Chad and Egypt. Driving is on the right side, as in
U.S.
Points of interest: Classical Greek and Roman
ruins at Leptis Magna, Apollonia, Cyrene; prehistoric rock art at
Ghadamis, Ghat; cities of Tripoli, Benghazi.
Accommodations: Hotels found in Tripoli, Benghazi,
Al Bayda, Cyrene, Ghadamis, Al Khums, Sabha, Tobruk, Darnah.
Customs: Importation of alcohol and pork is
forbidden; firearms, religious materials, antiquities, medicines
and currency are controlled. According to Arab Tours, London, (011)
44-20 7935-3273, no veil is required of women visitors; sunbathing,
swimming and beach culture are uncommon, despite miles of
shore.
Tipping: Service charges are included in hotel,
restaurant bills. Taxi fares inclusive of tip should be negotiated
in advance.
Entry: Passport, visa. Tourist visas cost about
$40; more information can be obtained from Libya's United Nations
mission in New York. Visitors required to exchange a minimum of
$500 on arrival. Israeli citizens and travelers with Israeli stamps
in passports are not admitted.
Departure: Six dinar ($4.50) departure tax; wives
of Libyan nationals cannot exit alone without spouse's
permission.
Embassies: There is no U.S. embassy in Libya.
Contact the U.S. Interests Section, Embassy of Belgium, by
telephone: (011) 218-21 335-0115/0116 or (011) 218-21 335-0936 or
e-mail at [email protected]. Likewise, there is no Libyan
Embassy in the U.S. Contact the Permanent Mission to the U.N. at
(212) 752-5775 or via e-mail at [email protected].
Health: There are no compulsory vaccinations, and
the World Health Organization has issued no advisories, but some
sources recommend inoculations against cholera, polio, tetanus and
typhus. Bottled water and use of antimalaria tablets also
recommended. Modern medical facilities are limited.
Ground operator: Winzrik Tourism Services Co.,
Tripoli. Tel.: (011) 218-21 361-1123/1125; Web: www.winzrik.com.
Compiled by Kenneth Kiesnoski
To contact reporter Kenneth Kiesnoski, send e-mail to [email protected].