74% Rise in Tourists From W. Europe to Egypt in Oct.

Europe was the most important tourism market for Egypt in October 2017, after a majority of European countries lifted travel restrictions to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt’s most popular tourist destination and other Red Sea destinations.

The number of tourists visiting Egypt from western Europe in October increased by 74.7% compared to October 2016, according to a report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, Egypttoday.com reported. The report added that there was an increase in tourists from Italy by 99.9% and from Germany by 96.8%, followed by the UK with an increase of 70.3%.

Tourism from eastern Europe has increased by 116.4%, with over 111,000 tourists in October 2017, compared with the same month of last year. The number of tourists from Ukraine increased by 86.2%, while tourists from the Czech Republic have increased 71%, according to the report. The number of tourists coming from all over the world to Egypt in October 2017 was 826,000, compared to 506,002 tourists in October 2016.

Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Finland, Italy and Denmark lifted their warnings months ago. The decision was made after extensive efforts by Egypt’s ministries of foreign affairs, tourism and civil aviation to support tourism in Egypt, which is a pillar of the country's economy and a key source of hard currency.

A number of European airlines and governments introduced restrictions on flights to Sharm el-Sheikh over security concerns, after a Russian passenger jet crashed in Sinai in 2015.

Egypt has renewed calls for the British government to lift its ban on British flights to the tourist destination Sharm el-Sheikh, as the airports have passed every test set by British security officials.

According to The Sun, a UK-based tabloid, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not advise against travel to Cairo, Alexandria, the tourist areas along the Nile River (including Luxor, Qena, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings) and the Red Sea destinations of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada.

At the same time, Russia and Egypt are currently discussing the possible return of charter flights next spring.

An Egyptian-Russian cooperation protocol in maintaining civil aviation security was signed on Friday that intends to resume flights between Cairo and Moscow for the first time since 2015, starting in February 2018, the statement added.

Egypt used to be one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, and the government is exerting much effort to maintain Egypt’s economy and security to boost tourism.