SITA Customers To Enter Libya for Eclipse Tour

SITA World Tours has finally gotten the go-ahead to have its guests enter Libya for a tour that features the solar eclipse and begins March 25. This comes after months of wrangling with Libyan officials. The subject of what the company called "an incalculable amount of rumors," the visa applications to Libya have suffered a number of changes in status since travel restrictions were lifted in February 2004. The government began delaying visa applications in December, and since then there's been "a lot of back and forth with government officials," said SITA spokeswoman Susan Neva. About a month ago, the company had gotten word that the visits would be disallowed, and many of the 45 passengers booked on the company's "Solar Eclipse" tour opted for a similar journey to Turkey. About 17 SITA guests are currently signed up for the Libya "Solar Eclipse" trip. However, the status for future trips remains uncertain, Neva said.