IRISH citizens are being warned to "exercise extreme caution" while travelling to Tunisia following yesterday's gun attack.
More than a third of people booked on a charter flight from Dublin to Tunisia yesterday opted not to fly.
The Sunway charter flight was due to leave Dublin airport at 3.30pm yesterday, but it is understood it took off several hours later.
Of 171 customers booked on the flight, 59 opted not to travel following the massacre in the Tunisian resort of Sousse.
Sunway is offering passengers who did not travel a full refund.
The Republic's foreign affairs minister, Charlie Flanagan, warned any Irish citizens to "exercise extreme caution" while travelling to the north African country.
"In light of this incident we are changing our travel advice for Tunisia to 'exercise extreme caution'," he said.
He added: "Irish citizens in Tunisia should remain extremely vigilant and follow the instructions of the police, tour operators, and their hotel staff. As this is a very fluid and fast moving situation our travel advice will be kept under review and we would urge those intending to travel to Tunisia to check the advice before travelling on www.dfa.ie/travel."
Martin Skelly, president of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), issued a statement saying the industry was deeply saddened at the death of Co Meath woman Lorna Carty.
"A number of ITAA travel agents and tour operators operate holidays to Tunisia and we will be working closely with them and the Department of Foreign Affairs to assist anyone currently in Tunisia, or with outstanding bookings for travel to Tunisia," he said.
Abta, the Association of British Travel Agents, said its member tour operators were holding urgent discussions over whether to bring tourists home and cancel holidays.
A spokeswoman said: "There are decisions being made at the moment. Tour operators are in conversation with ourselves and the Foreign Office as we gather more information".
