CAIRO, Egypt – Crisis-hit Egypt has seen a 28 per cent drop in tourists so far this year, according to a new report.
Normally a popular winter sun destination, the North African country has seen a significant decline since the Arab Spring gave way to ongoing political instability.
According to the statistics released by Egypt’s Ahram newspaper, there has been a 24 percent drop in European tourists visiting the country in January and February this year, when compared to 2013 figures.
They contribute to an overall 28 percent decrease in visitor numbers when visitors form other key markets, such as the Middle East and Arab countries, are taken into account.
One of the biggest losses was from the Asia and Pacific markets, with 42 per cent less visitors venturing to Egypt than during the same periodlast year.
The country’s tourism sector accounts for roughly nine per cent of GDP, but has experienced several setbacks since President Hosni Mubarak was forced to step down in 2011.
In 2010, Egypt received 14.7million visitors, which was a record high, but numbers dipped to just 10million in 2011 before climbing again to 11.5million in 2012.
The latest statistics for 2013 are still not available.
While cities were often declared off-limits during violent clashes, the Red Sea Resorts – in South Sinai – had remained unaffected until this year.
However, on February 16, a tourist bus was attacked in Taba in South Sinai, close to the Israeli border at Eilat. Four people were killed.
Following the attack, many tour operators stopped running excursions from the Red Sea Resorts to nearby St Catherine’s Monastery – the Greek Orthodox monastery that dates back tot he 6th century.
As a result of the attack, security at the resorts was stepped up and Germany issued a travel warning against visits to the peninsular.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not declared the Red Sea Resorts off-limits but has advised against all travel beyond the Resort area.
It warns: ‘The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the Governorate of South Sinai, with the exception of the area within the Sharm el Sheikh perimeter barrier, which includes the airport and the areas of Sharm el Maya, Hadaba, Naama Bay, Sharks Bay and Nabq.
‘Enhanced security measures are in place to protect the Sharm el Sheikh resort areas. Egyptian military are situated in Sharm el Sheikh international airport, at check points around the perimeter of Sharm el Sheikh and throughout the South Sinai Governorate.
‘Routine security checks are being performed on entry into the airport and the police are carrying out vehicle checks in Sharm el-Sheikh. There were no violent protests in the South Sinai resorts during recent disturbances in Egypt.’
Tourists are also free to travel to city destinations, such as Cairo, Luxor and Alexandria, despite ongoing violence targeting the military, but are advised to avoid all protests.
An army checkpoint was attacked by gunmen in Shubra al-Kheima, a suburb north of Cairo, on March 15, killing several soldiers. It has been blamed on the Muslim Brotherhood movement of deposed president Mohamed Morsi.
The attack came two days after gunmen killed a soldier in Cairo, as militants once based in the Sinai Peninsula increasingly target the capital in a campaign that has killed more than 200 security men since the army overthrew Morsi last July.
The FCO has warned that several important anniversaries will be happening in Egypt during the next month which could prompt further demonstrations.
It advises: ‘Protests, marches and demonstrations are common across Egypt. Demonstrations often happen on Fridays, but can occur at any time and with little prior notice.
‘The atmosphere at demonstrations can change quickly and without warning. Police may use water cannon, tear gas, birdshot or live ammunition for crowd control.’
