Is it safe to travel to Egypt?

After the attacks on the American Embassy in Egypt on September 11, the U.S. State Department issued warnings saying the situation was "fluid." It urged travelers to use "caution" but stopped short of issuing a "don't go" warning.

Arthur Frommer, the travel industry pundit of Frommers.com has issued his own "don't go warning," saying in his blog last week that he believes the police are not protecting tourists and that the government of President Mohamed Morsi's silence after the attack did not promote an atmosphere of safety. "Safety comes first," he said. "Right now, Egypt is not safe."

Meanwhile, other experts are arguing that Morsi's opening up of Egypt's full Nile cruise itinerary and his recent statements on the importance of tourism and tourists to Egypt's economy point to a stable foundation for travel.

In her Huffington Post blog, Jean Newman Glock, Director of Leisure and Group Travel for Connoisseur Travel referred to a recent meeting with President Morsi in Egypt during which he "made clear it that he wished to do all possible to ensure that tourists returning to Egypt felt safe and welcome."

Glock notes that while the Embassy demonstrations were front page news, they were not "representative of the nation as a whole."

"The world needs to continue to discover the wonder that is Egypt, past and present and experience the very warm hospitality of millions of Egyptians who are waiting for your return," Glock said.

Monday, September 17, 2012

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Local Tour Guide

I think your article should have included the fact that local Egyptian tour guides joined in protest at the Cairo Museum to say they did not feel adequately protected by the local government. This was on September 10th, one day before the major outbreaks of violence at the American Embassy.

By Paul Motter, Thursday, September 27, 2012
Another view

I just want to comment on the fact that the most recent event was a small, localized issue after a long stretch of relative calm. To state that Egypt as a whole is unsafe is ridiculous. Arthur Frommer's quote is ludicrous and irresponsible, you cannot deem an entire country unsafe based on the fact that a small area of a single city has a flair up. If safety truly comes first then none of us would travel in the first place. I think we need to use our common sense to decide if we are comfortable with the situation in any given country that we travel to. International travellers and governments didn't all say that the entire USA was unsafe when there was an issue of a deadly virus in Yosemite! Let"s keep this in perspective, this was a minor flair up in a local area, no tourists or expats were targeted or harmed. What happened in Libya in the same week is an entirely separate issue and needs to be reported as such. Egypt needs tourists now more than ever to rebuild their country after the revolution, it is also the perfect time to go as there are fewer tourists. I have visited Egypt multiple times, before, during and after the revolution and have never felt unsafe. I would hate for someone's personal opinion in a blog to sway anyone"s opinion without seeing another side, please do your own research and of course the final decision is up to the comfort level of the traveller.

By Erin Davie, Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Travel to Egypt Ill Advised

I agree with Frommer. Morsi's silence is an expression of support for the violence and US travelers in particular would be placing themselves in danger.

By Elaine Randolph, Tuesday, September 18, 2012