Major operators dismissed a report of “big cuts” in holidays to Egypt next year despite continuing tension in the country following the army’s massacre of supporters of former president Morsi.
Tui Travel and Thomas Cook continue to sell – and send UK holidaymakers to – Egypt’s Red Sea resorts, although German and French tourists have been withdrawn in line with the foreign office advice of the respective countries.
UK Foreign Office (FCO) guidance remains unchanged, with advice against travel other than to the Red Sea resorts, and Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh airports.
However, The Times newspaper reported: “Britain’s leading operators are making big cuts to the number of packages to Egypt next year amid mounting concern over the rising tide of violence. Tui Travel and Thomas Cook … have reduced the number of packages to Red Sea resorts.”
Cook denied it had made any such decision. A spokeswoman said: “Obviously we are looking at it, but it’s still something we’re assessing.”
A Tui Travel spokeswoman confirmed no one spoke to The Times but said the company had issued guidance on travel to Egypt.
“We give guidance to customer-facing staff so they know what to say should they get questions on Egypt,” she said.Monarch tour operations managing director Hugh Morgan said: “Clients don’t seem unduly bothered. We just follow FCO policy.”