Major tour operators are resuming their programmes to Luxor following the lifting of the travel ban.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced on Tuesday it was lifting the ban on all essential travel to Luxor in Egypt following last Friday’s resignation of president Hosni Mubarak. The ban remains in place for Cairo, Alexandria and Suez. Red Sea resorts are unaffected.
Thomson, First Choice, Thomas Cook and Cosmos today announced the return of flights to the destiunation.
Thomson and First Choice restart their Luxor holiday programmes on February 23, although all Cairo excursions remain suspended.
The company said: “Our overseas team is in the process of auditing all the hotels we offer in Luxor to ensure they meet our strict health, safety and quality standards that our customers expect. As the FCO advice has now changed, customers can enjoy the holiday they have booked and paid for.”
Thomas Cook’s flights to Luxor also resume on February 23. Its Cairo excursions from Red Sea resorts remain suspended.
Cosmos is resuming its hotel and cruising programme to Luxor and is also restarting its Tunisia programme. Flights restart out of Gatwick and Manchester to Luxor on March 7 and to Monastir in Tunisia out of Gatwick and Manchester on March 6.
In addition, Cosmos is planning an agent fam trip to Tunisia in conjunction with the Tunisia Tourist Board from March 22 to 26.
Product and commercial director Phil Boggon said: “We expect demand to revert to previous levels very quickly. We will obviously put our most price competitive deals into the market to stimulate early demand.”
Prices to Luxor lead in at £295 for seven nights bed and breakfast at the three-diamond rated Hotel Gaddis and Tunisia prices start at £169 for seven nights all-inclusive at the three-diamond rated Hotel Dar Khayam from Gatwick.