OPERATORS to Egypt fear a downturn in sales following
last week’s car bomb that killed at least 30 people in the
Rea Sea resort of Taba.
Two further explosions in Ras Shaiton and Nuweiba followed the
Taba bomb, which blew up the five-star Hilton hotel.
Two Britons were killed and more than 100 people were injured in
the Taba blast. Seven people were killed in the Ras Shaiton and
Nuweiba blasts.
Despite the Foreign and Commonwealth Office not advising against
travel to the country, operators fear the incidents will hit sales
to Egypt, a destination rising in popularity following increased
tourism investment.
Longwood Holidays managing director Rafi Caplin said the
operator had 19 clients staying in the Hilton, but none was hurt by
the blast and all are staying in alternative accommodation.
Egypt specialist Peltours had more than 500 customers in the
resort of Taba, but none at the Hilton.
For 48 hours after the incident customers were allowed to cancel
or amend bookings for travel to the end of October free of charge.
Normal booking conditions now apply.
Sales and marketing director Darren Panto said: “The bomb will
have an impact but we are confident it will be short lived.”
Argo Holidays sales and marketing director Theo Demetriou
– which operates to Sharm el-Sheikh – said calls
started coming in from concerned customers the morning after the
explosions, although there have been no cancellations.
“Sharm is 160 miles from Taba but people are bound to be
apprehensive,” he said.
Caplin urged operators to continue supporting Taba in its
darkest hour. “Operators must stand by Taba and not pull out at the
first incident,” he said.
Cadogan Travel senior travel consultant Sonia Stephens, who has
just returned from two weeks in Taba, said: “Taba is a great
destination. It was starting to become popular but bookings will
now suffer.”
Egyptian tourism minister Ahmed El Maghraby claimed the bombs,
believed to be the work of Palestinian militants, were not targeted
at the country’s tourism industry.