Egypt asks Russia to return charters to Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada
On October 29, the Foreign Minister paid an official visit to Moscow Egypt Sameh Shukri. The Egyptian side raised the issue of launching charters from Russia to the resorts of the Red Sea.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri participated in negotiations with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov.
The parties discussed issues of mutual trade, including the supply of Russian vaccine to Egypt. An agreement was also reached on holding a meeting of the two countries on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation in Moscow.
In the official message of the Russian Ministry there is no mention that Mr. Shukri at a meeting with D. Manturov raised the issue of the resumption of Russian flights to resort towns on the Red Sea, but in an interview with Egyptian media, the press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt Ahmed Hafeza said that Sameh Shukri at meetings with Russian colleagues stressed the desire of Egypt to resume charters from Russia, noting that the country’s airports are taking security measures.
The Russian side’s response to this appeal by Shukri is unknown. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that “the Ministry is working on the resumption of charter flights to the Egyptian resorts of the Red Sea.”
Russia and Egypt have opened flights between the capitals since September 3. Regular and charter flights to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh have been suspended since November 2015.
The beginning of the winter season Egyptian tourism meets in the absence of the main inbound markets - German and British. Tourists from Eastern Europe, including Ukraine and Belarus, rest at the resorts.
In an attempt to increase the tourist flow, Egypt extended to April 30, 2021 a free visa for arriving on direct tourist flights to Hurghada, South Sinai, Matruh and benefits for foreign air carriers. The issue of the resumption of international flights for Egypt is key.
Egypt’s tourism industry needs 3-4 years to reach 2019 levels. Last year, the country welcomed about 13 million foreigners, with tourism revenues of $13 billion. Since the restart of foreign tourism (July 15) as of the end of September, only 300,000 foreign visitors have visited the country.
Source: atorus
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