Egypt appears to have given up hope that the UK will lift its flight ban to Sharm el-Sheikh anytime soon. To avoid being left high and dry, the country will be running a new campaign aimed at promoting alternative holiday destinations. Egyptian directions, transmits The Telegraph.
The country's tourism board is keen to market Hurghada and the Red Sea resort of Marsa Alam. The Egyptian tourism agency has also begun marketing resorts on the African Mediterranean coast to British holidaymakers, previously popular only with residents of the Land of the Pyramids.
Minister of Tourism Egypt Yahya Rashid told the publication that Sharm el-Sheikh is not giving up, but its marketing strategy must "evolve" in a different direction if the flight ban remains in place.
He said the security measures put in place at Red Sea resorts, including X-ray machines and security scanners, had been introduced at all resorts in the country.
"Egypt is a huge, diverse destination. We look forward to welcoming the British tourist," he said.
The British government has refused to lift the ban on flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, despite recommendations from its own all-party parliamentary group and steps taken by Egypt to ensure the safety of tourists at its resorts.
"I hope the British government will lift the ban, but I respect the decision taken by the UK in the interests of its citizens. In the meantime, I will be approaching the British authorities to reconsider the decision - the time has come for that. If you walk through the streets of Sharm today, you will see how safe and comfortable the city has become," the minister added.
Mr Rashed also stressed that the resort's economic problems, caused by a sharp drop in visitor numbers to the region, were over: "The fact that the British are not flying to us does not mean that the rest of the world has given up flying to Sharm el-Sheikh," he said.
However, many of the resort's hotels were forced to close due to the gap in the Russian and British markets and lay off thousands of staff. Egyptian officials estimated the damage at £10 billion in lost profits.
By the way, last Monday Egyptian Ambassador to London Nasser Kamel told the World Travel Market that Sharm el-Sheikh airport was now safer than some UK airports and called on the UK government to lift the flight ban.
Source: trn-news.ru
