Sharm operators welcome WTTC’s visit to Egypt
Representatives of the World Travel and Tourism Council will visit Egypt next month to advise the country on its security.
It is hoped the trip will help put the country’s tourism industry back on track and may encourage the UK Government to overturn its ban on flights into Sharm el Sheikh.
WTTC CEO David Scowsill will lead a team to the country next month to hold talks with the Egyptian government and tourism representatives on security.
WTTC executive director for business development Caroline Plant said: "It’s the WTTC’s job to talk to governments and give them advice.
"We’ve visited 84 heads of state and prime ministers in the last three years and we have a team going out to Egypt next month to talk about how to enhance security without closing down barriers.
"It is all about perception. Travellers want to be informed of the risks in an open manner."
Last week, TravelMole reported Thomson has extended the suspension of its flights to Sharm el Sheikh until February 8 next year and hopes the Foreign Office lifts a ban on flights to Sharm by then.
All flights from the UK have been suspended since 2015 when a Russian holiday jet was blown up shortly after taking off from Sharm.
Discover Egypt director Philip Breckner said: "As a long-established specialist to classical Egypt, we at Discover Egypt welcome the WTTC’s visit to the country.
"It is only Sharm el Sheikh to where airlines have suspended flights – Luxor, Cairo, Hurghada and Marsa Alam have all continued to benefit from weekly tourism from the UK.
"The re-opening of Sharm el Sheikh flights to UK tourism will help Egypt further and provide employment to its tourism related workforce – and moreover take away this perception that is affecting the ‘whole’ of Egypt.
"Egypt is a great country that has for decades provided the perfect winter (and summer) holiday destination for UK holidaymakers seeking sun, sea, sand plus water sports, not least access to classical sites."
Earlier this year, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism unveiled a six-point plan designed to win back tourists within six months.
But the plans made no reference to security concerns that have led to UK operators cancelling their Sharm el Sheikh programmes and scaling back their operations to Hurghada and other tourist hotspots.
Overseas visitor numbers to Egypt fell dramatically by 40% in the first four months of 2016, compared with two years ago.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent