Egypt recovery on the cards

ONLY a few months
after tour operators
expressed concerns
about travel to Egypt, with
some cancelling itineraries,
they are again looking to
promote the destination. Since
the presidential elections in
May, confidence has grown and
demand for the destination is
being revived, operators say.
The Travel Corporation
recently announced that it
would resume operations
in the country for the
2014/2015 season, as a
result of pent-up demand
for the destination and in
a “show of support for the
Egyptian people” following the
elections. From September,
Contiki and Busabout will
re-commence trips in Egypt,
with Trafalgar and Insight
Vacations starting again
from January. Uniworld will
re-commence sailings on the
Nile in September, 2015.
“There is a tendency for
stability to follow elections
so this is a good time to
begin actively marketing
Egypt,” says media and pr
manager for Cullinan Outbound
Tourism, John Ridler. He
says Thompsons Holidays
is planning press trips and
travel agent educationals to
revive interest in the area.
John believes there is built-up
demand for the destination,
which should see visitor
numbers climb steeply.
Marketing director of Africa
Stay, Juan Nel, agrees and
says the company plans to
relaunch its Egypt itinerary
in the next month or so as a
result of renewed demand.
“Technically we never stopped
selling Egypt but we weren’t
promoting it as such.”
Juan says demand had
waned but since the elections
enquiries are slowly coming
through. “Egypt was previously
a best-seller for us and we
can’t wait for things to get
back on track in the region,”
he says. “We’re still reluctant
to sell tours in the Sinai region
and will focus more on Egypt’s
historic landmarks.”
Serendipity Tours has a
group travelling in Egypt at the
moment and says everything is
running smoothly. The operator
pulled back a few groups last
year when safety concerns
were at their height. However,
the operator believes the
recent elections will promote
stability and renew confidence
in the region. “We have a
great ground handler in Egypt
and are not experiencing any
problems whatsoever,” says
office manager, Kim van den
Berg.