Egyptian escalation
Violence in some of Egypt’s major cities has prompted travel warnings from several governments around the world, and German travel provider Tui has reportedly cancelled the holidays it had already sold to German customers to the country, re-routing passengers to other destinations. Germany’s Foreign Ministry advised against all travel to Egypt ‘in view of the current situation and the unpredictability of developments’. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has warned against all but essential travel to Egypt apart from the Red Sea resorts, where it said that enhanced security measures are in place: “Egyptian military are situated in Sharm el Sheikh international airport, the entrance to the resort of Sharm el Sheikh and the exit to the resort area of Dahab. Routine security checks are being performed on entry into the airport and the police are carrying out vehicle checks in Sharm el Sheikh. A dusk to dawn curfew was introduced in Cairo and other major centres in Egypt, forcing airlines to alter flight schedules. British Airways confirmed that it had altered its schedules so that it does not land any aircraft in the evening, adding: “We are keeping the situation in Egypt under constant review. We are also offering customers the option of rebooking to a later date, or to another destination.” Cruise operators MSC, Costa and Holland American Line have all reportedly re-routed their Egypt-bound vessels.
Violence in some of Egypt’s major cities has prompted travel warnings from several governments around the world, and German travel provider Tui has reportedly cancelled the holidays it had already sold to German customers to the country, re-routing passengers to other destinations. Germany’s Foreign Ministry advised against all travel to Egypt ‘in view of the current situation and the unpredictability of developments’. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has warned against all but essential travel to Egypt apart from the Red Sea resorts, where it said that enhanced security measures are in place: “Egyptian military are situated in Sharm el Sheikh international airport, the entrance to the resort of Sharm el Sheikh and the exit to the resort area of Dahab. Routine security checks are being performed on entry into the airport and the police are carrying out vehicle checks in Sharm el Sheikh. A dusk to dawn curfew was introduced in Cairo and other major centres in Egypt, forcing airlines to alter flight schedules. British Airways confirmed that it had altered its schedules so that it does not land any aircraft in the evening, adding: “We are keeping the situation in Egypt under constant review. We are also offering customers the option of rebooking to a later date, or to another destination.” Cruise operators MSC, Costa and Holland American Line have all reportedly re-routed their Egypt-bound vessels.
On 14 August, tourist excursions in Sharm el Sheikh were suspended amid security fears, and letters were posted through hotel doors to holidaymakers in Hurghada that advised them to stay within the grounds of their hotels. According to ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, around 40,000 British tourists are currently in Egypt, most of whom are in the Red Sea resorts. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed the presence of a similar number of Russian tourists, and said that if any of the tourists wish to be evacuated from an area of danger it will be done so by the government free of charge.