Egypt to use webcams to repair tourist reputation
Live images from Egyptian beach resorts aim to show that parts of the country are safe to visit (Photo: Simona Scolari)
The country is planning to use live streams of the country’s beach resorts to show the world that areas of the country are still safe to visit. Indeed, the Foreign Office has advised British holidaymakers to avoid the majority of Egypt following the Arab Spring and, more recently, the overthrow of former President Mohamed Morsi this summer.
More than 18 countries have since lifted warnings on popular destinations such as Luxor and Aswan since the unrest, Egyptian Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou told the World Travel Market conference at London’s ExCel centre.
Omayma El-Husseini, a representative of the Egyptian State Tourist Office, insisted that resorts such as Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea remain safe to visit, with “fractionally more” arrivals welcomed this year compared to 2012, reports The Telegraph.
Cairo remains off-limits to Brits, alongside other destinations, but upcoming talks with UK officials are hoped to see the travel advisories lifted.
“As soon as the Foreign Office revises its travel advice for the UK, we will work tirelessly with our valued media, travel agent and tour operator partners to communicate that the whole of Egypt is open,” Mr. Zaazou told the newspaper.
Part of that initiative will include using webcams to broadcast live footage of “exactly what is happening on the ground” right now.
“We want to let people know what other people are enjoying and to encourage the tourists to keep on coming,” Miss El-Husseini added.
The FCO guidelines currently reads: “The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the rest of Egypt except for resorts on the Red Sea in South Sinai and those resorts on the Egyptian mainland in Red Sea governorate (including Hurghada). This is in view of continued unrest and the evolving political situation in Egypt.”
“The FCO do not advise against the use of Cairo airport as a transit stop providing you do not leave the airport grounds. There have been access problems on some of the roads to Cairo airport, particularly Saleh Salem Road.”
“There have been violent clashes since July 2013 resulting in a large number of deaths. Most of the clashes have taken place in Cairo, Alexandria and Mansoura. There have been demonstrations in other parts of Egypt, including Hurghada and Luxor, some of which have turned violent. Further demonstrations are likely and could take place in any part of the country.”
For the latest information and travel guidance, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt