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Michael Portillo meets Rasha Azaizi, director of the Egyptian State Tourism Office, at WTM
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Michael Portillo backs Egypt’s calls for UK tourism revival
Former Conservative politician and TV presenter Michael Portillo joined Egyptian delegates at WTM to endorse tourism to the country. “Egypt remains one of the
most impressive places I have been to,” he said. “Egypt has always been open
Egypt minister believes UK ‘close to lifting Sharm ban’
Amie Keeley
amie.keeley@
travelweekly.co.uk
Egypt’s tourism minister said the UK government is “getting closer and closer” to lifting its ban on flights to Sharm el-Sheikh following the introduction of new airport technology and the training of security staff.
Yehia Rashed said he was “confident” the destination would see visitor growth in 2017 and that it was “only a matter of time” before the Foreign Office updated its advice. His comments came despite
Monarch’s announcement last week that it was cancelling all flight and holiday bookings to Sharm el-Sheikh for the
foreseeable future in light of the UK government giving no indication as to when it would permit flights to the airport from the UK. All flight and holiday bookings
for winter 2016-17 will be cancelled and Monarch has no plans for the destination to be part of its summer 2017 programme. Fewer than 300,000 Britons are
expected to visit Egypt this year – down from 870,000 in 2015 and 1.5 million in 2010. Flights to Sharm el-Sheikh from
the UK were suspended following the bombing of a Russian aircraft that had taken off from Sharm el-Sheikh airport in October 2015. The UK is the only country in
Europe, besides Russia, not to have lifted its ban. Germany and Belgium lifted theirs five months ago. Asked at World Travel Market
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travelweekly.co.uk 10 November 2016
“There is more equipment at the airport that makes the security very sound”
this week why he thought the British government had not changed its advice, Rashed said: “We respect the government’s decision whatever it is.” He added: “The airport at Sharm
el-Sheikh is safe. A lot of tours and inspections have been carried out and these have been very positive. “There is more equipment at
the airport that makes the security very, very sound and takes the security burden away.” He said a UK company had been
contracted to carry out training among the airport’s security staff.
(for business); you’ve always been able to fly to Cairo and Luxor and enjoy the ancient wonders.” Commenting on the UK’s flight ban to Sharm el-Sheikh, Portillo, a former Cabinet minister in the 1990s, said: “It is not for me to contradict the Foreign Office. It has the most serious responsibility. “I am impressed other
national authorities are operating [to Sharm el-Sheikh] and [UK] airlines are pressing the government to fly. “I hope the government will keep assessing the situation.”
“We are getting closer and closer
[to a UK return],” said Rashed. “I believe confidence has been built.” Earlier this week the Egyptian ambassador to the UK, Nasser Kamel, said the “possible economic and social ramifications” of the ban were a “serious concern”, while the president of the Sharm el-Sheikh Tourism Investors’ Association, Hisham Aly, said the ban had been “catastrophic” for Egypt. Rashed said: “I believe it is just
a matter of time before the UK government reviews the work and investment we’ve done in improving security and lifts the ban on flights to Sharm el-Sheikh.” Thomson and First Choice have cancelled all flights up to and including February 8. Thomas Cook has cancelled holidays to Sharm el-Sheikh up to April 30.
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