Egypt Update from the Egyptian Tourist Authority, New York office

June 30, 2011 - PRLog -- The U.S. State Department downgraded its travel warning to Egypt this week, urging U.S. citizens to consider the risks rather than avoid all nonessential travel.

Most employees of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo have returned, the State Department reported, and the embassy is resuming normal operations.

However, the State Department cautioned travelers that "elements of the Egyptian government responsible for ensuring security and public safety are not fully reconstituted and are still in the process of being reorganized. Until the redeployment of Egyptian civilian police is fully restored, police response to emergency requests for assistance or reports of crime may be delayed."

The travel warning stated that popular tourism destinations in the country, such as Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts, are calm.

"Travelers should remain in contact with their tour operators," the State Department said.

Trafalgar Tours plans to resume its Egypt operations May 1. The U.S. State Department reports its Embassy in Cairo is returning to normal operations and has revised its travel warning for Egypt. As a result, tourism, the country’s major source of revenue, is getting back on track. Paul Wiseman, president of Trafalgar, said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for travelers to see history in the making, and we are proud to be supporting the people of Egypt at this time. I hope travelers will take advantage of this special opportunity. All Trafalgar Egypt vacations feature the services of professional Tour Directors and expert local guides, and Trafalgar’s local ground staff in Egypt is always on hand to ensure that our guests’ experience the best of Egypt experience in safety and comfort.”

Trafalgar offers three Egypt itineraries ranging from nine to 13 days that explore Egypt in depth and two additional itineraries that feature visits to Egypt in combination with Greece and Turkey. To add further value and encourage travelers to return, Trafalgar is offering discounts up to $165 per person off current brochure prices for land-only vacations (amount of discount varies by itinerary).

Trafalgar was established in 1947 and provides vacations to Europe, Britain, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South America and China. Packages include first class hotel accommodations, luxury transportation by motor coach, rail or cruise ship, outstanding cuisine, daily included sightseeing and optional excursions, both with expert local guides, and the personal concierge services of Trafalgar’s tour directors, who share their insider’s view and reveal hidden places not mentioned in guidebooks
Abercrombie & Kent Egypt Managing Director Amr Badr reports that Egypt has seen “a number of very positive developments” in recent weeks that “point towards a positive outlook for Egypt.” Egypt’s new government held a referendum on proposed constitutional amendments, and they were approved by the majority of voters. “I am very glad to report that the voting was conducted with no incidents of violence and that the results were accepted without dispute,” said Badr. “This indicates to us that people are engaged with and supportive of the democratic process and that the parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for September, are expected to be carried out in a peaceful and democratic manner.”

Another positive indication for Egypt tourism, according to Badr, is the fact that the U.S. government no longer advises against non-essential travel to Egypt but notes that travelers should remain aware of the current situation. Most U.S. diplomats and Embassy staff have returned to Egypt and the Embassy is resuming normal operations. Egypt’s stock exchange has opened and is functioning. Expectations were mixed, but after nearly a week of trading the market has actually performed very well and has seen gains of approximately 18 percent.

The Ministry of the Interior is functioning, and police, including tourism police, are deployed throughout the country, said Badr. “Minister Essawy is a strong leader for the Ministry and has made Egypt’s safety and security his primary objective. The nightly curfew has also been reduced to three hours (2 a.m. to 5 a.m.). This is, in fact, a welcome restriction to many as it brings at least a few hours of peace and quiet in Cairo.”

Occupancies in Egypt currently vary by location, Badr said, from approximately 17 to 25 percent in Cairo, 20 to 35 percent on the Red Sea, and 10 to 20 percent in Upper Egypt. The majority of visitors are from short-haul destinations -- mostly Europe and the region -- with some from the Americas as well. “The numbers of tourist arrivals continue to pick up,” said Badr, “and the experience of visitors to Egypt is by all means first class in terms of added value, crowd-free sights, engagements with Egyptian culture, and the vibrant energy of a new Egypt
At the same moment, U.S. warplanes are bombing neighboring Libya, and most tourists are dismissing Egypt as a no-fly zone.

But not Mary and Pierre Combal. After being on "pins and needles" about the status of the trip they'd booked before Egyptian protesters ousted President Hosni Mubarak from power in mid-February, the Scarsdale, N.Y., couple are here despite a U.S. State Department travel warning — and couldn't be happier about it.

"One of my colleagues told me, 'I hope you come back,' " says Mary Combal, one of a handful of awestruck spectators ambling among the Luxor Temple's 3,500-year-old pillars. "But I feel strongly aboutMore companies return to Egypt
Developments in Egypt continue to be positive. Since the last informal member poll February 28, seven out of 11 responding USTOA companies now say they are returning to Egypt earlier than previously anticipated.
 supporting Egypt, and this is a magical time to be here."


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