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After a month since the Hamas attack on Israel, the tourism industry in Egypt is experiencing a decline. According to a source, bookings for Egyptian Red Sea resorts through their company have dropped by 80%.
According to Darrell Wade, the chairman and co-founder of tour operator Intrepid Travel, the dispute is causing adventure travelers to look for alternatives to Egypt.
In an interview with The Independent on the daily travel podcast, he revealed that there have been numerous cancellations in the past two to three weeks.
This is concerning for the citizens of Egypt, but honestly it is not a concern for us because they can usually find a replacement destination.
However, for individuals in Egypt, it is indeed a cause for concern.
The British government’s Foreign Office continues to consider the tourist destinations in Egypt as relatively safe for British travelers. However, there have been some incidents in the country.
According to reports, a police officer from Egypt fatally shot two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian tour guide in Alexandria last month.
On October 27th, drones used by Houthi forces in Yemen were reportedly sent to Egypt’s Sinai peninsula.
Air fares to and from Egypt have fallen to unprecedented levels. Wizz Air is selling flights from London Gatwick and Luton to the premier Egyptian resort, Sharm el-Sheikh, for £45 one way. The distance is over 2,400 miles.
The low-cost airline is experiencing a significant loss with Air Passenger Duty at £87.
Both Wizz Air and easyJet have recently introduced flights departing from Sphinx International airport, located near the iconic pyramids in Giza. In the upcoming week, a standard ticket price for easyJet’s route from the Egyptian airport to Luton is £40.
However, Philip Breckner, the commercial director of Discover Egypt, a specialized company, stated to The Independent that numerous British tourists continue to visit Egypt.
In the past few weeks, we have had many individuals and families, totaling several hundred people, traveling.
We have only received praise and favorable responses. Individuals are contacting us and we are clarifying the current situation. The guidance from the Foreign Office has remained largely unchanged in recent months, with the exception of mentioning the Gaza border.
“I have received notifications and comments stating that Luxor, Aswan, the Nile, and Cairo are all safe for travel.”
Nonetheless, Mr. Breckner predicts that there will be ongoing travel to Egypt.
The speaker stated that they have witnessed wars, intifadas, and revolutions, but tourism has always managed to rebound.
Source: independent.co.uk
