Barcelona attack advice for UK tourists visiting the Catalan capital, Cambrils and Spain

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What is the immediate advice to British visitors to Barcelona and Cambrils?

In the aftermath of the atrocity on the Ramblas in Barcelona and the second attack in the nearby resort of Cambrils, the Foreign Office warned: “If you're in the immediate area you should take care and follow the advice of the local security authorities.”

There is some disruption to normal life, with a large number of police checkpoints in operation in and around Barcelona and Cambrils, and public transport may be affected.

Thomson Holidays has cancelled all excursions to Barcelona from nearby resorts for today.

What are the options for travellers who are in the area and want to leave?

Barcelona is well connected, with excellent rail and bus links as well as one of Europe’s busiest airports. Cambrils is on a rail line and close to Reus airport.

However, space is at a premium during the summer peak; most flights are extremely heavily booked.

If someone decides to leave, they may well have to do so at their own expense. But after previous atrocities in other cities, some airlines and holiday companies have given travellers the option to fly home early if seats are available.

Travel providers tend to decide on a case-by-case basis, so if you have concerns you should talk to them.

A spokesperson for BA said: “Customers due to travel to or from Barcelona in the coming days are being offered a range of options if they wish to bring forward or postpone their journey, and we encourage anyone with concerns about their booking to contact us or their travel agent to discuss their travel plans.”

Can people booked to Barcelona, Cambrils or elsewhere in Spain, cancel or postpone their trips if they no longer wish to travel?

The likelihood that the Foreign Office will place Barcelona, Cambrils or elsewhere in Spain on the “no-go” list is exceedingly low. Therefore there is no obligation for travel firms to offer flexibility or refunds to people with holidays booked there.

The biggest British airline to Barcelona, easyJet, said: “Any passenger not wishing to travel on flights to or from Barcelona in the next 48 hours can change their flight with no change fee.”

Thomson, the UK’s largest holiday company, says: “Normal booking terms and conditions will apply for any customers due to travel to Spain.”

Thomas Cook is offering the prospect of more flexibility, saying: "We’re encouraging customers to get in touch with us directly if they have concerns."

Some other companies may offer different options, but a full refund is unlikely.

People who are booked on package holidays are allowed to transfer the trip to someone else on payment of an administration fee, typically £50.

Can cruise passengers defer their trips?

Unlikely. The main cruise terminal in Barcelona is reasonably close to the airport and can be accessed without the need to go into the city centre.

P&O’s Britannia sailed on time from Barcelona on Thursday evening with all guests and crew safely on board. No other P&O ships are calling at Barcelona until Adonia on 30 August. A spokesperson said: “We will monitor the situation and take advice from the authorities.”

Thomson, which also had a cruise ship in Barcelona yesterday, says all its customers in the areas are safe and well.

Were attacks like this expected?

Yes. Prior to the attack the Foreign Office warned: “Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Spain. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners.”

The country has previously been attacked by Islamist terrorists, notably the train bombing in Madrid in 2004 which killed more than 200 people.

What is the position with travel insurance?

If you cancel a trip because you no longer wish to go, you cannot make a claim. “Disinclination to travel,” to use the industry term, is not covered by any standard travel insurance policy.

The Association of British Insurers says: "Travel insurance will cover the costs of any emergency medical treatment needed if you are caught up in a terrorist attack.

"If you are in, or are planning to visit, an area where an attack has occurred, you should follow any advice from the UK Government and, where necessary, talk to your travel agent, tour operator, airline or other transport provider.

"If you change your travel arrangements, then your travel insurance can usually be transferred to cover the new destination."

How many British people are in Spain at present?

At least one million. Spain is by far the most popular country for British holidaymakers, and mid-August is peak season. Most UK citizens are at resorts on the islands and Mediterranean coast, rather than in cities.

Over the past two summers, Spain has seen a significant surge in tourism as holidaymakers have switched from other countries, such as Turkey, which are perceived as risky because of the number of terror attacks.

Are further terrorist attacks likely in Spain and elsewhere?

Yes. As the power of so-called Islamic State has waned in the past few years, the group has encouraged its supporters to mount vehicle attacks.

Such random atrocities exploit the liberal, open nature of big, popular cities and are relatively straightforward to organise compared with bombings or shootings. Even though the weapon — a rented or stolen vehicle — is rudimentary, they can cause as many casualties as a bomb attack or marauding gunman.

In the past 13 months, Jihadists using vehicles have murdered people in Nice, Berlin, Stockholm and twice in London.

In all these locations, an increased police presence has been followed by “hardening” protection against vehicle attacks in popular areas.

What steps will cities and resorts across Europe now take?

At present most vehicle defences in cities are designed to tackle a very different threat: to prevent terrorists driving car bombs or trucks loaded with explosives into targets such as airports, railway stations and government buildings, and detonating them.

Every city where large numbers of tourists and local people congregate will look closely at how to protect people from copycat attacks. The resulting vehicle barriers, which by their nature tend to be big and heavy, will change the look of locations from Amsterdam to Rome. But they should reduce the risk exposure and boost confidence among residents and visitors.

Protecting holidaymakers in resorts is more problematic, especially when they are on crowded beaches or busy hotels.

Will the attack change how and where people travel?

The experience of locations that have suffered similar atrocities suggests that Barcelona will see a temporary fall in the number of visitors. Longer term it is likely to remain extremely popular.

The foiled attack in Cambrils, a mainstream holiday resort, is likely to alarm parents about the potential risk to their families.

More broadly, some travellers may conclude from the Jihadist focus on popular European cities that they should travel to quieter destinations. And some may decide to stay at home.