Egypt is open for business. That was the resounding message coming from tourism officials at World Travel Market.
The Egyptian Minister of Tourism, His Excellency Mr Yehia Rashed (pictured), said a tourism recovery strategy for Egypt was underway and that while he respected the government?s flight ban to Sharm El Sheikh, he believed it was only a matter of time before the work and investment to improve security in Egypt?s airports was reviewed and the ban lifted. The UK is the only country in Europe with a ban still in place after Germany and Belgium started flying back into Sharm El Sheikh in May.
He said: "The message is loud and clear. Egypt is safe and well prepared to welcome the traffic back. I think we are getting closer and closer and that confidence has been rebuilt. Britain and Egypt have had relations for hundreds and thousands of years and we look forward to having you back as our friends and family to take you home from home."
The Egyptian Tourism Authority is predicting 2017 as a year of growth from the UK following the launch of a new flight between Heathrow and Luxor, as well as research showing a demand from British people looking for better value holidays in 2017.
Rashed added: "More than 1.5 million British visitors came to Egypt in 2010. Last year it was 870,000 and this year we expect it will be down by 70% to fewer than 300,000 visitors. But we are very confident that 2017 will be a year of growth. Egypt is open for business already with flights from Thomas Cook, Thomson, easyJet and Egyptair every week."
Speaking alongside Egyptian tourism officials, TV presenter and former MP Michael Portillo said: "I am very much fired up by history and Egypt remains the most impressive place I have ever been to. These memories have remained with me."
The Egyptian government is working hard to bring ancient Egypt and the beaches of the Red Sea Riviera to the fore as part of its tourism recovery strategy and major advertising and trade campaigns are planned for the year ahead to raise awareness of the fact that Egypt is open for business.
The Minister?s confidence in the revival of interest in Egypt from the UK was supported by YouGov consumer research which showed that the pressures of 2016 had meant that a third of UK people who had holidayed abroad this year felt their last holiday was too expensive and are keen to get more for their money in 2017. Almost a quarter of people said they would consider new destinations abroad to get better value for money next year by visiting countries such as Greece (35%), Egypt (8%) and Eastern Europe (33%).
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