Tourism in Egypt.

[Scottishtourist]

In the aftermath of the tragic air disaster,and the recalling of Russian,British tourists,flight suspensions,etc...I now read various reports that Egypt is promoting Sharm to fellow Egyptians and other mainly Arabic countries.

How lucrative will this marketing campaign be?

If it all goes well..then will they really need European visitors?What do the Europeans,etc,give to the resorts that Egyptians/fellow Arabs won't?

Their own tourists will know and understand the culture,they won't "disgrace"themselves by wearing inappropriate dress,or drink alcohol..and surely they'll have money to spend?

I often heard Egyptians in Hurghada dismissing Russians as "rubbish people."
I'm sure the same comments are repeated elsewhere in Egypt.Luxor even!And not only with regards to Russian tourists!

So...why the big panic?Could it possibly be that their own countryfolk won't put up with the scams,sweet-talk,dual pricing,immoral methods to part them from their hard-earned cash?

Is a cheap holiday for non Egyptians/Russians really worth the risk?
The fear of not getting back home alive?

No.Maybe we'll all be better off leaving Egypt and it's culture,heritage,etc to the Egyptians.

[Jayway]

We can always take a trip to Paris and get blown up or shot ?

[Scottishtourist]

We could also just stay home Jayway and only bother ourselves with family,work..and what time we eat at!
Enjoy the structure in a culture we are used to and feel comfortable with.

The way things are going with terrorist attacks..that's an altogether more attractive option.

Support your OWN culture,your OWN country's economy.

Such a shame that Paris is now a dangerous place.Visited it in the past and loved it.
No-where is safe now..and who are the culprits?

[LovelyLadyLux]

Who are the culprits?

ISIS IS ISIL Daesh The Islamic Caliphate of Abu Bakar Al Baghdadi

Methinks this kind of tragedy in Paris will not be the last one of its kind. Jihad has been around for something like 1400 yrs now.

No where is safe. They ARE coming to a neighbourhood near you.

Sooooooooo

Going to stay home 'til they arrive on your doorstep OR you going to maintain your regular pattern and go on a yearly holiday?

[Glyphdoctor]

I am sure there are certain people in Luxor and elsewhere in Egypt who want to see tourism come back who are actually gleeful that this attack in Paris happened. They always come out of the woodwork when things like this happen and make sure to remind everyone about attacks outside Egypt. Because they feel smugly justified in saying it's not just Egypt that suffers from this problem and then they can whine about how Egypt is being unfairly penalized.

This is not only insensitive, it's stupid. Maybe they don't realize that when a terror attack or war breaks out elsewhere, it can have a devastating impact on tourism globally and in Egypt specifically. Everyone knows about Hatshepsut or the 2005 Sharm bombings but obviously these same people are totally unaware how Egyptian tourism also dropped to practically nothing after the first Gulf War and 9/11. I remember when my parents came to visit in January 2002 one of the sites we visited was Saqqara. We were the ONLY visitors in the Step Pyramid complex, and looking down at the ground there were lots of bird footprints and no human ones.

ST's remarks above are a good example of what these idiots need to understand about potential visitors. Imagine what the French are thinking now. Do you really think they would be ready to book a holiday to Egypt???

[crewmeal]

Excellent post Glyphdoctor.

[Robbo70]

There are also certain people in Egypt already blaming the UK for their fall in tourism over comments from Dave and our security services. Some of the abuse being directed at British is enough to put a lot of people off, even if they were willing to still travel.

In 2 weeks, we are going down to London for a weekend. I doubt I will feel any safer in my own Capital city than I would in any city in Egypt right now. This is now a worldwide problem, not just Arab countries

[Dusak]

I think that I heard correctly just after the downing of the plane that Egypt, because of this, has cancelled a proposed worldwide promotion of tourism. I think the cost was around sixty million $, but could be mistaken. I do grow tired at times with the same silly questions and analogy's concerning tourism in Egypt when a duck farts somewhere on the planet.

[Scottishtourist]

I'd like some links please.

Can anyone provide me with links where Egypt has actually expressed any sorrow for the lives lost?

Cos,so far,all I've read about is the tales of woe on the impact on Egypt tourism.

Does that really show Egypt in a good light?The Russians and the British have gone...but what the hell!
We'll just promote our "jewel"in other countries!And sincerely hope that they will be naive enough to believe us.

I spoke with friend in Luxor last night.He's back home in Luxor.In his own words..Sharm and Hurghada are "finished."

[Brian Yare]

I think that I heard correctly just after the downing of the plane that Egypt, because of this, has cancelled a proposed worldwide promotion of tourism. I think the cost was around sixty million $, but could be mistaken. I do grow tired at times with the same silly questions and analogy's concerning tourism in Egypt when a duck farts somewhere on the planet.

One of the most stupid posts I have ever read on Luxor4u, and there have been many. Where is the unlike button?

[carrie]

-Just had a phone call from my friend in Sharm, she leaves on Tuesday to return to UK, had a great holiday she says and loads of new Russian tourists arriving.

[Bombay]

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent ... illin.aspx

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent ... s,-sa.aspx

[Scottishtourist]

-Just had a phone call from my friend in Sharm, she leaves on Tuesday to return to UK, had a great holiday she says and loads of new Russian tourists arriving.

Well..there's obviously a lot of contradictory reports with regards to Sharm.
Where are these Russian tourists flying from?
Are they flying half way round the world just to get to Sharm-el-Sheikh?

Kinda defeats the purpose of a cheap holiday..don't you think?

But..words fail me as to your friend's comment.
If that is indeed the case..then give it a break Egypt..and stop whinging about the air disaster's effect on tourism!

[Glyphdoctor]

Maybe she can't distinguish between Russians and other Eastern Europeans either, and flights are coming from other Eastern European countries. It's a bit hard for there to be lots of Russians arriving when there are no flights. In the long term they might arrange other routes but not necessarily immediately.

[newcastle]

Some Russians are reaching Hurghada via Ukraine and other countries accessible from Russia. Not in significant numbers compared to the situation pre Sinai.

A few flights do still arrive from Russian airports but I imagine these are empty to take back holidaymakers who were here already....and perhaps "residents " who have been asked to leave.

[A-Four]

The FCO say that after Tuesday there will be approx 200 U.K citizens still remaining in Sharm.

As you may be aware, property laws in that area are very different to the rest of Egypt, so it is expected that these are true expats, who have the right to remain in Egypt, though they have been warned that if they wish to leave after this date, then they will be required to use a non direct flight back to the U.K.

[Bombay]

The FCO say that after Tuesday there will be approx 200 U.K citizens still remaining in Sharm.

As you may be aware, property laws in that area are very different to the rest of Egypt, so it is expected that these are true expats, who have the right to remain in Egypt, though they have been warned that if they wish to leave after this date, then they will be required to use a non direct flight back to the U.K.

As everyone did in Luxor.

[Robbo70]

its no big deal to fly from sharm to cairo and onto London.