CAIRO: Egypt is facing economic misery after British tourists stopped flying to Sharm el-Sheikh.
The resort shows no sign of recovering after a Russian holiday jet crashed, killing all 224 passengers, in October, in what was almost certainly a terrorist bomb attack.
Egyptian authorities, anxious to maintain desperately needed income from visitors, have been reluctant to admit to any ongoing security problems, or even that a bomb probably downed the plane – but both Britain and Russia still advise against flying to the Red Sea resort.
As a result, tourist numbers have plummeted by more than 85 per cent, and hotels and other business in Sharm el- Sheikh are struggling to survive. Egypt’s tourism income as a whole is said to be £120m a month down.
The official advice from Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office makes clear that terrorism is a risk in Egypt, and that some areas should not be visited at all.
Travellers are warned that ‘UK airlines are no longer operating flights from Sharm el-Sheikh’ and that anyone there should make careful decisions about the risks they face – although FCO officials do not raise any concerns about terror attacks within the resort.
Yet the attack on the Russian holiday jet was a far from isolated incident in Egypt.
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