Tourism minister hails protests against terrorism

Saturday, 27 July 2013

Egypt's Tourism Minister Hisham Zazou hailed on Friday protests against terrorism, asserting that the nationwide protests underline Egyptians' keenness on combating violence and terrorism.

The tourism sector is authorizing the armed forces and police to combat terrorism in Egypt, Zazou told the Middle East News Agency.

He asserted that he would participate in Friday's massive protests.

The ministry has organized several activities with the Egyptian Tourism Federation and other bodies to support Egyptians' stance against terrorism, the minister added.

The ministry will also cooperate with the Sound, Light and Cinema Company to hold sound and light shows at Giza pyramids to support Egyptians in their war against terrorism, he said.

Zazou affirmed that all tourist sites are fully secured and that no tourist was subjected to any attack.

Egypt holidays with coup

As a tourist in the Red Sea: A Power Exchange, anxious inquiries from the motherland and the pragmatic view of tourism professionals.

Makadi Bay beach

The tourists enjoy at the Makadi Bay beach, the sun, when suddenly four fighter jets of the Egyptian military rather low thunder of time flying in formation over the resorts, shoot a bow again and offer her acting. On the road between Hurghada and Sahl Hasheesh control cars are apparently controlled particularly well with only Egyptian inmates, tourists are allowed through. Marshals sitting on a young soldier, holding in his hand a pennant with the national flag.

It's one day after the change of power in Egyptian. I'm with my family holiday in the Red Sea. Normally I will not blogging. But usually not the government of the host country is then swept away by the military and I get worried emails and text messages from family and colleagues, because even if everything was in order.

If we call journalists in such circumstances the organizers, we always hear that we should avoid Cairo, but in the resorts of the Red Sea, all was quiet. Now I can confirm from my own experience this standard set. Finally, most of Egyptian bath objectives are developed from the retort collections of (usually very nice) hotel. In Hurghada and the surrounding area comes in glorious summer weather everything as usual, the events in Cairo are not only geographically remote, and fighter jets apparently framed the swearing in of the interim president Adil Mansur, the only real indication of the poltiische events (this also for info Tourist Klaus Brähmig politicians who already makes precautionary thoughts on the security situation).

An Egyptian hotel employee told me that President Mohamed Morsi have not exactly promoted tourism and so far it is good that he is gone now. But overall it was still a bad signal, the first freely elected president would already detained by the military after only one year. A German hotel boss, with whom I spoke in Hurghada, things look very pragmatic: by the military acted so quickly after the mass protests, hopefully will avoid a period of uncertainty. Finally now, the catalogs are important for Egypt for the winter season on the market, the unrest on the anniversary of the revolution in January had already cost enough family bookings for the summer.

The owner should also speak other tourism professionals from the soul. As President Mursi end of January in Berlin wooed investment for his country, the enthusiasm of travel managers present held within narrow limits. Because the Islamist Although in his speech a lot of tourism, but meant only the cultural treasures of the Nile, not the holiday with alcohol and bikinis at the beach, which apparently was for him as a necessary evil to maintain the all-important economic sector.

So we are hoping for a fresh start with a hopefully capable Tourism Minister (whether in the German industry cherished Hisham Zaazou again making a comeback?). The country and its friendly and hospitable people, it would only hope. In any case I'm as happy tourists again!

@http://blog.fvw.de/index.cfm/2013/7/5/AegyptenUrlaub-mit-Staatsstreich

How safe is a holiday to Egypt during the current violent protests and civil unrest?

IT’S been a week since President Mohammed Morsi was ousted In Egypt and today an arrest order has been issued for the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Badie

The violent protests, which saw more than 50 people killed on Monday, has led tour operators to cancel day trips to Cairo and Luxor for tourists currently on holiday in the country. A sensible decision, following Foreign Office advice, urging Britons against “non essential” travel to some areas of the country.

In line with this, Explore and Exodus, who both specialise in adventure travel involving visits to ancient pyramids and temples have temporarily suspended holidays to the region for the next three months. Both are currently contacting customers and offering alternative holidays.

So, where does that leave holiday-makers due to fly out this summer?

The good news for anyone heading to a Red Sea Resort destination is that this region appears to be unaffected.

The latest Foreign Office advice continues to be, “In view of the continued unrest and ongoing evolving political situation in Egypt, the FCO recommends against all but essential travel to Egypt except for resorts on the Red Sea in South Sinai and those resorts on the Egyptian mainland in Red Sea governorate.”
These exemptions include, “Red Sea resorts in the entire region of Sharm el Sheikh, Taba, Nuweiba and Dahab”. – all a good eight hours drive from any of the areas which the Foreign Office has advised against visiting.

A spokesperson for Thomas Cook UK & Ireland said: "We continue to monitor the situation in Egypt and are working in close contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Our experienced teams on the ground assure us that no tourist areas at the Red Sea have been affected.”

Flights to Sharm el Sheikhk are continuing as normal, they say and the Foreign Office has precautions for any travellers to Egypt include.

1.    Checking that you are well covered on your travel Insurance.
2.    The company you plan to travel with ABTA or Atol registered
3.    Make sure you keep up to date with news and check the Foreign
Office website for any updates https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt

Currently, advice on their website urges Britons against travelling to the North Sinai district and say that any airport passengers travelling to destinations involving a transit stop in Cairo should remain inside the airport.

“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to the Governorate of North Sinai due to the significant increase in criminal activity and recent terrorist attacks on police and security forces that have resulted in deaths.”