Holiday in The Middle East

[Sean Dell]

Can anyone out there give me the latest on the security situation in Egypt. The missus and I are going next month and she is getting a little twitchy re. safety, particularly at the tourist sites. I personally, am of the opinion that we are probably safer than ever as the Egyptians rely so heavily on tourism and they don't want a repeat of the Luxor massacres in 1997. However I would appreciate any (sensible) comment from anyone who has been recently either on holiday or as crew.
Thanks

SD

[Sean Dell]

Come on guys someone must have been recently. Thanks

SD

[newswatcher]

From the DT Travel Setion(13/10)

"Despite a series of student demonstrations denouncing the "war against Islam", tourists in Cairo say they have not been harassed.

"Everyone has been very polite," said Louise Collins, a visitor from Colchester in Essex. "The only problems occurred in the markets when some stallholders began insisting we buy things we weren't interested in."

One package holidaymaker said that friends with whom he and his wife had been going to travel to Egypt had cancelled their trip. "We thought about staying at home as well, but we've been looking forward to this holiday for years so we decided not to let anyone ruin it," he said.

Officials in Cairo insist that visitors are "safe" and security is "tighter than ever". Police escorts accompany all tourist buses; officers are outside every big hotel.

Egypt's tourist industry suffered a devastating blow when Islamic militants gunned down 62 tourists visiting the temples of Luxor in November 1997. Security measures introduced after the attack included a ban on travel by foreigners on local, as opposed to tourist, trains.

While some travel agents, including the Cairo-based office of Thomas Cook, admit that bookings have been "quiet and a bit down", travellers in the country report no problems and all the tourist sites are open for business.

"Some people are extreme," admits Nessrine Fayed, a Cairo-based engineer. "But the majority of Egyptians have no argument with foreigners. Islam is about peace. If tourists understand that, then they'll understand there is nothing to fear in Egypt."

For other ME destinations -
http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2001/10/13/etmarr13.xml&sSheet=/travel/2001/10/17/i xtrvbot.html

[ 17 October 2001: Message edited by: newswatcher ]

[keeders]

My brother & his wife have just (week before last) returned from Sharm el Sheikh. Didn't have any problems at all, really enjoyed themselves. He did say that security did seem to be fairly visible around the tourist areas and that the locals were predominantly very friendly. Not sure if this helps or if it's where you are going but have a good time anyway.

Keeders.

[Obi Wan Kirk]

I wouldn't worry and go for your holiday to Egypt. Terrorist have already played the card of the airplane-missile, they won't again. As said by somenone else Egypt's economy is very focused on tourism so security is surely being made more efficient.

Have a nice trip!

[411A]

Egypt is probably OK, but I would stay out of Jordan if I were you. In Israel, Sharon just today mentioned that Arafat should be killed at the first opportunity.
Not a favorable scenario for that part of the world.