The various travel bans to Egypt have affected tourism, especially for the Christmas season, as many bookings have been cancelled.
According to statistics from the Tourism Ministry, revenues increased by 27 percent in 2014 to reach US$7.5 billion, and the number of tourists rose to 9.9 million.
Nagy Erian, a member of the Federation of Chambers of Tourism, said he is in London negotiating with travel agents. “They will not book until the final report of the Russian plane crash is issued,” he said, adding that the government should intervene to resolve the problem. “The solution must come from the governments of the countries that are party to the problem.”
He said Russia sent 2.8 million tourists to Egypt last year, Britain one million and Germany 600,000. “The government should do the talking now,” Erian said.
Mervat Hataba, of the Tourism Holding Company, said Russian tourists constitute 60 percent of the market. “We need alternatives,” she said.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
