Russian tourists return to Egypt within a month

CAIRO – 10 September 2017: The Egyptian tourism sector is preparing for the return of Russian tourists after Russian Transportation Minister, Maksim Sokolov, had announced that Russian airlines are preparing to resume their flights to Egypt.

Sokolov had said in an interview with the Russian news agency Sputnik, during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, “Our airlines will deal with this task quickly, especially that they have been prepared for it. I do not think it would take longer than a month to perform the task.”

Hisham al-Demery, chief of Tourism Development Authority, stated that there is a plan to promote traveling to Egypt ready to be carried out in the Russian market, but is not legally possible at the moment due to the banning decision. It is however possible to participate in travel and tourism fairs which are held in Russia. He added that the Tourism Development Authority will be participating in International Trade Fair for Travel & Tourism “Leisure” which will be held in Moscow between September 19 and 21.
Demery added that Leisure is one of the most important travel and tourism fairs in Russia, which is set to be held before the winter season which is the most favorable touristic month in Egypt, especially coming from the Russian market. Furthermore, he added that Egyptian resorts’ level of preparation to receive the Russian tourists will be reassured through the participation, assuring that the level of service in hotels and resorts will be enhanced.

The chief of Tourism Development Authority urged the owners of hotels and resorts to carry out a “quality rather than quantity” policy. On the other hand, Ramy Rizkallah, the manager of one of the famous hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh assured that in the event of Russian airlines resuming their trips to Egypt, regular flights will be heading to Cairo airport and in that case the cost of the tourist’s flight trip will rise, because there are no charter trips to Sharm el-Sheikh which will lead to a decrease in the number of Russian tourists at the beginning. However, Rizkallah predicts that direct flights to touristic cities will resume after a few months of the trips resuming decision.