Red Sea resorts suffer despite exclusion from travel ban
Searches for holidays in the Red Sea resorts have plunged following the ousting of the Egyptian president which sparked political riots and demonstrations across the country.
Travel review site TripAdvisor said 20% fewer people were researching holidays in the Red Sea resorts even though the Foreign & Commonwealth Office is not warning British travels not to travel to the area.
In fact, the FCO specifically excluded the Red Sea resorts, including Sharm-el-Sheikh and Hurghada from its travel advisory urging British nationals to avoid non-essential trips to the rest of Egypt.
Its latest advice is as follows: "The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the rest of Egypt except for resorts on the Red Sea in South Sinai and those resorts on the Egyptian mainland in Red Sea governorate (including Hurghada).
"In the governorate of South Sinai the FCO advise against all but essential travel, with the exception of (i) the Red Sea Resorts including those in the entire region of Sharm el Sheikh, Taba, Nuweiba and Dahab; (ii) the St Catherine’s Monastery World Heritage Site; (iii) road travel between the Red Sea resorts; (iv) road travel from the Red Sea resorts to St Catherine’s Monastery approaching from the east; and (v) transfers between the resorts and the airports of Taba and Sharm el Sheikh."
TripAdvisor said the fall of 20% in less than a week would come as a blow to Egypt’s South Sinai region, which relies heavily on tourism.
"Despite the Foreign Office’s guidance offering some reassurance to those heading to the Red Sea, it seems that many UK travellers have opted for caution and put their plans on hold while the crisis in Egypt unfolds," said TripAdvisor spokesperson James Kay.
A spokeswoman for Thomson and First Choice said the operators could not give an indication on booking numbers to Egyptian resorts because they are part of a listed PLC in a closed period.
"Egypt remains a popular holiday destination for customers. July and August are peak season and demand for holidays remains strong," she said.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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