Egypt tourism in meltdown as British airlines refuse to fly to Sharm after plane bomb

The Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is facing crisis after British tourists stopped travelling there, after a Russian holiday jet crashed in October (pictured) killing all 24 people on board 

 

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.