Brits are flocking to a different Egyptian Red Sea Resort after being barred from Sharm El Sheikh
Hurghada was traditionally a German holiday resort, but since travel to Sharm El Sheikh was suspended in 2015, Brits have started visiting
BRITISH holidaymakers desperate for a holiday in Egypt, but barred from flying to Sharm El Sheikh have been flocking to the resort of Hurghada instead.
The Red sea destination was traditionally more visited by German holidaymakers, while Sharm El Sheikh was the UK favourite.
But tourist travel to the Egyptian resort was suspended in December 2015 after a Russian passenger plane was blown out of the sky, killing 224 people.
Since then the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice has warned against “all but essential travel by air to or from Sharm el Sheikh”.
As a result, Brits keen for the reliable weather and good value all-inclusive hotels that made Sharm El Sheikh so popular are heading across the bay to Hurghada instead, even though the FCO warns that there is a “high threat from terrorism in Egypt”.
In 2012 and 2013, Thomas Cook was selling around 300,000 Egyptian package holidays to Brits, with many of those heading to Sharm.
That number shrank to around 200,000 in 2014 and 2015 as people began to get nervous about visiting the North African holiday destinations.
Then in 2016, thanks to a series of terror attacks in the region and the subsequent ban by the Foreign Office on all flights to Sharm El Sheikh, Thomas Cook only sold around 50,000 Egyptian package holidays to Brits.
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But this year, the tour operator has seen a surge in bookings and are expecting visitor numbers to reach around 200,000 again.
Because Sharm is still completely off the cards for British tourists, much of that increased tourism is going to Hurghada instead.
In fact, in Manchester alone there has been an increase of 100 percent in Hurghada bookings.
Thomas Cook head of customer welfare Carol Mackenzie said: “The resort town of Hurghada on the Red Sea Riviera is growing in popularity, and we’ve put more flights on for winter and summer 2017 to keep up with demand.
“You can see why – local people are friendly and welcoming, and the country offers some great value options for both winter and summer sun.
“With great weather all year round, plus miles of sandy beaches and good access to watersports like sailing and diving, Hurghada offers a classic beach holiday for great prices.”
Those who are braving the Red Sea destination of Hurghada are getting a lot for their money.
For instance, the four-star SENTIDO Mamlouk Palace Resort offers seven nights all-inclusive from £519 per person, including flights.
Or, the five-star the Palm Royale Soma Bay is charging from £619 for seven nights all-inclusive, including flights.
Much like Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada is a beach resort city populated by several all-inclusive resorts, that is also renowned for scuba diving, windsurfing and snorkelling.