Heading for some winter sun

WITH the winter chill predicted to last four months in the U.K. Brits will be heading abroad for some winter sun in their droves. Research conducted by beach holiday specialist On the Beach has revealed Spain as the most popular winter sun destination this year, with the Canary Islands and resorts across the mainland attracting more Brits than any other destination in Europe, with Turkey firmly back in the Top 5 winter sun destinations.

Top 10 most popular winter sun destinations:

1.   Canary Islands
2.   Mainland Spain
3.   Balearic Islands
4.   Turkey
5.   Algarve (Portugal)
6.   Greece
7.   Malta
8.   Morocco
9.   Egypt
10. Cyprus

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Egypt introduce new e-visa service

THE Egyptian government have introduced a new e-visa service, whereby citizens from stated countries, including the UK, can now easily obtain an entry visa online.

The new service offers an alternative to applications upon arrival, or through the Egyptian consulate prior to travel.

Simplifying travel to the country and speeding up the process at border control, residents from 46 countries across Europe, Asia and Australasia can now apply for a visa through a simple online application form.



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Egypt sees increase in foreign visitors

RENOWNED for its rich culture and history dating back 4,000 years of Pharaoh and Pyramids, #Egypt also has a lot more to offer - a paradise on earth and magic of Egypt Western Desert.  According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the country has received at least 730,000 tourists in February 2018, achieving a 35 percent increase compared to the same month last year.

Egypt Western Desert Tours has seen an increase of foreign visitors group tours for eco-tourism from the UK, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe along with new markets from Asia; South Korea, China, and Malaysia. 

According to the latest Oxford Business Group (OBG)’s, the positive outlook for Egypt’s tourism was backed by the increase in visitors by 54% in 2017 to 8.3 millionGroup travel jumped 66.5%, indicating resurgent interest from package tour operators, and the January-February period saw a 39% year-over-year increase in the number of tourists from the UK - another traditional source of arrivals.


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Thomas Cook launches new destinations for Summer 2018

THOMAS Cook has launched its summer 2018 programme for Bristol Airport, with an exciting range of new destinations to choose from. These include the Preveza in Greece and Hurghada in Egypt, both of these routes are exclusive to Thomas Cook from Bristol, in addition Bourgas in Bulgaria and Gerona on Spain’s Costa Brava, Kos and Paphos have been added to the programme.

As well as new destinations, Thomas Cook is offering customers three new own-brand hotels to choose from including new smartline and Sunconnect resorts. In addition, Thomas Cook Airlines is introducing eleven additional flight routes from Bristol Airport, both to existing destinations and to new destinations.

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US issues travel warnings for Egypt & Jordan

The US has issued travel warnings for Egypt and Jordan over the risk of terror attacks against American interests, tourists and personnel.  The US State Department warned US citizens to consider the risk of travelling to these countries and to avoid certain areas where the threat is greater.

"The Egyptian Government maintains a heavy security presence at major tourist sites, such as Sharm el-Sheikh... and at many of the temples and archaeological sites located in and around greater Cairo and in the Nile Valley," the travel warning read.

"US Mission personnel are allowed to travel to these areas. However, terrorist attacks can occur anywhere in the country," the alert added, explaining that several extremist organisations are operating in Egypt, including the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

The US has also warned its citizens and staff against travelling to Jordan, where terror organisations, including the IS, are active.

"Jordan's prominent role in the counter-IS Coalition and its shared borders with Iraq and Syria increase the potential for future terrorist incidents," the State Department said.

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Egypt launches passenger ferry between Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh

A FERRY service between the Egyptian resorts of Hurghada and #SharmElSheikh has opened. The service can carry 300 passengers and will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The crossing takes two hours and is currently priced at 630 Egyptian Pounds (£59) for an adult return journey.

The announcement was made by the country’s tourism minister, who said the service will make it easy for foreign visitors to experience both resorts.

The service is part of a concerted effort to increase the number of tourists visiting #Egypt. It follows a recent trip by a British parliamentary delegation to Sharm el-Sheikh, which inspected levels of safety and security, and commented positively on both.

Recently, UK prime minister Theresa May and Egypt’s President Sisi had a ‘positive’ phone call discussing ongoing security improvements at Sharm el-Sheikh airport. Mrs May praised the Egyptian government’s efforts to improve security at the airport and said the UK government would continue working closely with the Egyptians on this issue.

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Red Sea diving tips

THE EGYPTIAN TOURISM AUTHORITY has tips to help divers discover the country’s #RedSea treasures:

Ras Mohamed National Park: The most prized spots in this location include Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef which offer divers the chance to see every single species of fish in the Red Sea in one location.

Straits of Tiran – Jackson Reef: Thanks to its strong currents and abundance of nutrients, the coral here is magnificent and attracts a wide range of larger fish including hammerhead, gray, and guitar sharks.

Thistlegorm (Sharm el Sheikh): Many consider this to be the most popular wreck dive in the world. SS Thistlegorm sank in 1941 after being attacked on its way from Glasgow to Alexandria. The ship’s contents which included motorbikes, trucks, and armored cars sit on the bottom of the ocean alongside the wreck itself, complete with the hole from German bomb. Divers can use torches to look inside the wreck and might be lucky enough to spot a rare crocodile fish.

Brother Islands: Divers will need to join a safari boat to experience these spectacular islands and follow in the footsteps of Jacques Costeau. Both Big Brother and Little Brother have a splendid coral and the crystal clear waters, ideal for underwater photography. Highlights are two shipwrecks, the Aida and the Numidia.

Elphinstone (Marsa Alam): Tis drift dive offers the chance to swim with hammerhead and oceanic white tip reef sharks. Tiger sharks and dolphins can also be spotted here making for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Abu Dabbab (Marsa Alam): You are more likely to spot a Sea Turtle and the lesser-known Dugong here than at any of the other dive sites. There are two Dugongs living in Abu Dabbab that receive special protection as they are in danger of extinction.

Dolphins house, Marsa Alam: Just off the coast of Marsa Alam, a pod of spinner dolphin live on this offshore reef. Visitors can dive or even snorkel with these inquisitive creatives.

Carnatic Wreck: One of the oldest wrecks in the Red Sea, it carried crates of wine, some of which are still intact at the bottom of the ocean.

Blue Hole (Dahab): One of the most famous diving locations on the shores of the Red Sea, also known as a hot spot for free diving due to the sea depth and the lack of current.

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Egypt to beef up security in bid to lure Brits back

IN an attempt to assure British tourists about the safety of #Sharm el-Sheikh as a holiday destination, #Egypt has employed a British firm to deliver an aviation security programme covering the country’s airports. 

Restrata, which has experience of working with airports across the world, will advise Egyptian private security firm, Falcon Group International, which have been tasked by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide security at the country’s airports.

Using its experience of working with airports across the world, including London Heathrow, Restrata and Falcon will train 7,000 security staff over the next six months.

The announcement follows the recent decision by the German government to lift its ban on flights to Sharm el-Sheikh.

The partnership was commended by the British Ambassador to Egypt and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, as further progress in re-building travel between Britain and Egypt.

Britain’s ambassador in Cairo, John Casson, said: ‘Nothing is more important than the safety of British and Egyptian people as they travel between our countries. I’m proud that Britain is Egypt’s leading and most active partner on the road to a world -class airport security system that could be a model for the world.’


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BA abandons Sharm el Sheikh ‘indefinitely’

BRITISH AIRWAYS has decided to suspend flights to Sharm el Sheikh in #Egypt indefinitely. 

British Airways, along with other UK airlines, suspended flights to Sharm in November, following a terrorist bomb attack on a Russian airliner, in which 224 passengers and crew were killed on a flight from Sharm to St. Petersburg. The British government then banned all flights to the airport until it was satisfied that security there had been improved.

Despite hopes that the BA suspension would be lifted from September, it has now said: ‘The safety and security of our customers will always be our top priorities and we have suspended our flights from Gatwick to #SharmelSheikh indefinitely.

‘Customers who hold bookings on any cancelled services for the coming winter season can claim a full refund or can use the money to cover a new booking with us for an alternative destination.

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Six-point plan to rescue Egyptian tourism

#EGYPT’S new tourism minister – Mr Yehia Rashed – has unveiled his plan to revive the fortunes of the country’s tourist sector. 

His Tourism Impact Plan sets out six priorities, and is designed to produce results within six months. The six themes are:

1. A new partnership: Working with international tourism partners to restore success

2. Bring the world to Egypt: Working in partnership with Egypt’s national carrier, EgyptAir, to develop new destinations, and to support charter and low cost airline companies in bringing more tourists to Egypt

3. Innovation and investment: Enhance Egypt’s tourism infrastructure by supporting investors and innovation

4. Raise the bar: Meet the highest international standards through upgraded product and service levels at tourist facilities

5. Attract international investment: Working to bring foreign direct investment to Egyptian tourism

6. A future in green tourism: Develop the growing trend in Egyptian tourism of sustainable eco-friendly accommodation, transportation, and activities

Says Mr Rashed: ‘My one and only goal is to bring huge numbers of tourists back to Egypt. To do this we need concerted action and partnership with Egyptian and international tourism stakeholders. This is the start of an exciting time and opportunity for Egyptian tourism. This will return Egypt to being one of the most sought after places to visit in the world.’ 

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Terrorist attacks drive changes to holiday plans for British tourists

‘Egypt, Turkey, and Greece are the main destinations to suffer from the drop in confidence in the region’

FEARS that terrorist attacks would have an impact on the British travel market have been confirmed by travel management software specialists Multicom.

The Bristol-based online travel software business, recently acquired by Swedish firm Paxport, reported that sales in January showed a decrease in bookings for the Eastern Mediterranean of 40% year-on-year.

Egypt, Turkey, and Greece are the main destinations to suffer from the drop in confidence in the region, reports Multicom. In the same period, bookings to Western European destinations including the Balearics, mainland Spain, and Portugal have noticeably picked up and appear to be the beneficiaries of the downturn further east.

Some holidaymakers are making later decisions about their overseas trips, with bookings for breaks within 30 days before departure increasing.

Multicom’s Chris Nourse said: ‘British holidaymakers are clearly taking a more cautious approach when planning their holidays this year. Over the years, they have shown they can be very resilient when faced with the threat of disruption to their travel plans or an increased risk to their safety for whatever reason. However, the increased threat of terrorism in light of recent events in Tunisia and Sharm-el-Sheikh and the appalling attacks closer to home in Paris have noticeably heightened concern among consumers.

‘We can already see the impact on bookings made through FindandBook, and we expect confidence will be slower to return than we have witnessed previously. It is likely that the continuing threat will affect the balance for the longer term this time round.’

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Egypt to invest millions in security at Hurghada and Sharm

#EGYPT is putting more security staff, sniffer dogs, CCTV cameras, and X-ray machines in its Red Sea resorts to improve security for holidaymakers. The country's government is to spend more than £22 million on the measures in Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada in an attempt to win back tourists.  

Visitor numbers have plummeted since a number of terror attacks, a plane crash in the Sinai, and political instability. 

The country’s #tourism minister Hisham Zaazou said the measures would bring tourist security to a higher level. Be he told the Daily Telegraph that the measures would not make visitors feel overly-guarded and that there would be a good balance between feeling safe and enjoying a holiday. 

The latest scanning equipment and additional security personnel will monitor key points around hotels, including access from the sea. CCTV cameras at hotels will be linked to government security control rooms. Better security will also be installed at major archaeological and tourism sites, including the temples at Luxor.

Flights from the UK have been suspended to Sharm el Sheikh since November over fears that a Russian jet, which crashed in the Sinai just after leaving the resort's airport, was brought down by a bomb. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed all 224 on board. Russia has since stopped all flights to Egypt. 

Although UK flights have been stopped to Sharm, the UK government is not advising against visiting the resort. 

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Terrorism threat to tourism highlighted

TOURISM will be the industry suffering the most in Tunisia as a result of repeated terrorist attacks, claims strategic market research firm Euromonitor International.

The fear of repeat attacks led to 3,500 British tourists leaving Tunisia since the attack by a militant gunman killing 38 tourists at the resort of Sousse in June. This followed the March museum attack in Tunis.

Egypt, another North African destination hit repeatedly by terrorist attacks, is also expected to see an economic slowdown and decrease in arrivals as well as investment.

Meanwhile, Euromonitor warned that Turkish tourism will suffer from the current stand-off between the country and Russia following the shooting down of a Russian warplane above the Syrian border. The impact of a ban on Russian travel companies sending tourists to Turkey will depend on the duration of the restrictions. But with more than 4.5 million Russians visiting Turkey last year, the country will not make up losses from Russia even if it tries to attract tourists from other countries.

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Monarch extends Sharm el-Sheikh cancellation period

MONARCH has extended its Sharm el-Sheikh flight cancellation period from January 6 to January 24 as the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Transport Department continue to advise against all but essential air travel to the Egyptian holiday resort. 

‘Monarch has taken this proactive decision to allow our customers to make alternative holiday plans as soon as possible,’ said the company in a statement.

Customers affected by the change are entitled to change their booking to a later date or re-book to another destination in the Monarch network. Affected travellers can also request a refund or a credit note towards future travel. 

For customers looking for an alternative destination, Monarch has additional flights to mainland Spain, Faro, Gibraltar, and Tenerife.

Monarch continues to operate to the Red Sea resorts of Hurghada and Eilat, as well as Cyprus, the Canary Islands, Agadir, and Madeira this winter.

UK airlines and operators had to fly more than 16,500 holidaymakers home following the downing of the Russian Metrojet Airbus which killed all 224 people on board and subsequent security issues at the Red Sea resort airport.

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Sharm el-Sheikh flights suspended following return of all UK holidaymakers

ALL flights from the UK to #Sharmel-Sheikh are now suspended following the final flights for stranded British holidaymakers yesterday. 

A total of 16,656 people have been flown home by airlines and operators from the Egyptian Red Sea resort since November 6, says the UK’s Department for Transport.

Customers with forward bookings to the resort are being advised to contact their airline or operator – Thomson, Thomas Cook, Monarch, easyJet, and British Airways.

Thomson and Thomas Cook have cancelled all out-bound flights to Sharm el-Sheikh until December 3 and Monarch until December 19. easyJet flights are cancelled for the rest of the month with services to Sharm el-Sheikh from December 2 under review in consultation with the British government.

Passengers due to fly with BA are being offered full refunds, the chance to re-book to a later date or to switch to an alternative destination. Thomson said: ‘Customers travelling to Sharm el-Sheikh up to and including December 16 2015 will be able to amend their booking free of charge to any holiday taken by the end of April 2016.’ Thomas Cook is offering free amendments up to and including December 10.

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Sharm el-Sheikh: Refund on Egyptian £s offered

POST OFFICE TRAVEL MONEY has confirmed that it will offer customers considering cancelling holidays to #Sharmel-Sheikh a full refund on the Egyptian pounds they have bought.   

Refunds will be provided at the original price paid.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: ‘We do not want to add to the financial pain suffered by disappointed holidaymakers whose plans are wrecked by circumstances beyond their control, so we are continuing to offer a full refund on money spent purchasing Egyptian pounds in Post Office bureaux or online.’

To qualify for a refund, Post Office customers will need to take their #currency back to a branch, change it back into sterling and then send in the receipt together with their original purchase receipt as well as evidence of their holiday cancellation in the form of an invoice, tickets, or e-mail confirmation from their tour operator as proof of booking.

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Egypt cancellations extended

THOMSON, THOMAS COOK, AND MONARCH holiday programmes to #SharmelSheikh have been cancelled until November 25. Flights to the Red Sea resort had been cancelled until November 12 following the #ForeignandCommonwealthOffice (FCO) ban on all but essential travel following the crash of the Russian Metrojet Airbus which killed all 224 people on board on October 31.

Flights to the resort have now been put on ice for a further two weeks as repatriation of thousands of stranded British holidaymakers continues.

Thomson said: ‘Following the recent change in the FCO travel advice advising against all but essential air travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Thomson Airways has taken the decision to extend the cancellation of all outbound flights to Sharm el -Sheikh up to and including Wednesday November 25. All customers booked to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh in this period will be provided with a full refund or can amend to any holiday currently on sale. If the new holiday is taken before the end of April 2016 we are also offering a £30 per person discount.’

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Spain tops for last-minute get-aways

RESEARCH by On the Beach points to Spain as the top choice for Brits planning last-minute getaways this summer.

#Spain and its islands dominate the top five most popular destinations, with Majorca, #Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Ibiza making up the top four spots. The Turkish resort of Dalaman is the fifth most popular destination.

While Spain dominates overall, #Cyprus has seen the biggest increase in last-minute bookings, up 44% on the previous year, followed by Egypt, up 22%. Other destinations showing a significant increase in last-minute bookings include Turkey (up 19%), and Greece (up 17%).

Resorts in Turkey are offering the cheapest deals compared to last year, with last-minute holidays on average 15% cheaper.

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Thomson, First Choice increase regional options

MORE regional flying in 2016 is to be introduced by Thomson and First Choice, including a new route to Aruba from Manchester. Additional 10- and 11-night durations to Chania, Crete, are also being made available from Manchester.

Catania in Italy, Hurghada in Egypt, and Sal in Cape Verde are being introduced as new routes from Bristol Airport, together with 10- and 11-night durations to Rhodes.

The move is part of a strategy to ensure customers across the UK can fly from their local airport.

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Egypt shelves plan to halt visas-on-arrival for lone Brits

EGYPT has shelved its plan to deny British tourists the opportunity to apply for visas on arrival, instead announcing that an electronic visa system would be introduced.

Last month, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced that from May 15, all Britons not part of tour groups visiting the country would no longer be able to apply for a visa on arrival. Instead, they would have to apply and pay for a visa in London prior to departure.

The decision was seen as a move to tighten security measures in Egypt, which has faced threats from Islamic militants.

The reversal came after the government faced criticism from the country’s tourism sector, which has struggled to recover from the recession and political instability.

As a result, independent travellers can still apply for a $25 (£17) visa on arrival at Luxor, Cairo, and a free entry stamp at Sharm el-Sheikh.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) welcomed the decision.

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