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Operators are trying to repatriate 20,000 Britons from Sharm el-Sheikh


Egypt ‘wiped off map’ for winter after aircraft crash


Hollie-Rae Merrick hollie@travelweekly.co.uk


Egypt has been “wiped off the tourism map” as a winter-sun destination following the suspected terror attack on a Russian aircraft, agents say.


The UK government banned


flights to Sharm el-Sheikh after officials said there was a “significant possibility” that the Airbus that crashed over the Sinai Peninsula was brought down by an explosion. Operators including Monarch, Thomas Cook, Thomson and Red Sea Holidays have pulled flights as they focus on repatriating up to 20,000 British holidaymakers. All four have cancelled holidays


to the Red Sea resort until November 25, under guidance from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and are offering refunds or alternative options. Neil Basnett, chief executive of


Elite Travel Group, said: “Egypt is off the tourism map for at least this winter season. The Russians have pulled out completely and they


“Egypt probably won’t be back until Easter, so the key winter period is off the cards”


make up a lot of numbers to Egypt, so the country will suffer. “There will be implications for


the rest of Egypt, not just the Red Sea area, because it could wipe the entire country off the map. It’s a country on its knees.” Nick Marks, joint managing


director of Baldwins Travel, said: “Egypt will bounce back but not immediately. It probably won’t be back until Easter, so the key winter period is off the cards. “Things change very quickly.


After Tunisia, we saw a surge in other destinations, such as Bulgaria, which flew off the shelves.” Aito chairman Derek Moore said


the destinations that were likely to benefit included Spain, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, The Gambia and Morocco. Gary Lewis, group managing director of The Travel Network


4 travelweekly.co.uk 12 November 2015


Group, said sales to Egypt would be “significantly impacted by recent events”. Figures from analyst GfK show bookings to Egypt for the winter season falling from 10% down year on year on the day of the crash to 64% down a week later. Although the incident has primarily affected the Red Sea area, Discover Egypt, which sells tours mainly in Upper Egypt and the Nile, has suffered cancellations. Director Philip Breckner said:


“We are experiencing calls because the media has made people worry that there’s a state of unrest across Egypt. We have had a handful of cancellations in the immediate aftermath, but these are a minute number of bookings that were knee-jerk reactions. “There will be some disruption


to confidence and we’re going to have to take a step backwards before we can go forwards again.” The Egyptian minister of


tourism, Hisham Zaazou, however, said he was confident the country’s tourism industry would recover.


at a glance Egypt forward bookings


l Thomas Cook is offering customers free cancellations or the chance to change the destination of their holiday up to November 25. Clients will get a £25 saving on alternative holidays. Those booked until December 10 can also change their bookings for free.


lThomson is also offering refunds or free changes on holidays until November 25. If the new holiday is taken before the end of April, the operator is offering a £30 discount.


lRed Sea Holidays, which had more than 600 customers in resort at the time of the crash, is offering guests a holiday to other parts of Egypt or full refund. The operator is liaising with customers through agents.


l All Monarch customers with a flight-only or holiday booking before November 26 can request a refund or change flights to another date or destination.


PICTURE: REUTERS


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