Smitha Nair (name changed on request) and her fiance had planned an April honeymoon trip to Egypt after their March wedding. However, the couple has now decided to call it off and travel elsewhere after news of political unrest in pyramid country.
While potential Indian visitors to Egypt are cancelling travel plans and considering other destinations, those already in the country are working out ways to get to safer destinations.
However, with all modes of communication, including internet and cell phones, being shut down, Indians in Egypt are having a tough time connecting with family members and travel service providers back home.
Speaking to DNA, Ashwini Kakkar, vice chairman, Mercury Travels, said his office has been busy tracking customers in Egypt, especially after the violence that began after the Friday night prayers. Though some of their clients have chosen to stay, a few others have decided to come back.
“Quite a few of our customers are currently in Egypt and we are trying to locate their whereabouts. A honeymoon couple has been moved out of Cairo and is currently on the Nile River Cruise, after which they will be heading to Sharm El Sheikh. Another family consisting of senior citizens wanted to come back and we have managed to put them on a flight back to India. Efforts are being made to get in touch with an Ahmedabad-based family and hopefully we will connect with them soon,” Kakkar said.
Egypt’s instability is spelling trouble for the country’s travel and tourism industry, more so because December to March, and to some extent April, is considered to be the in season. A very popular destination for holidays, honeymoon, and lately business conference related travel for Indians, industry experts are of the opinion that the current season has already being ruined.
Travel trade experts say that approximately 250,000 Indians visit Egypt every year and on any given day, there would be a minimum of 1,000 Indians visiting the country on business or leisure.
Manoj Gursahani, chairman, Travelmart, said that travellers should wait and watch and take a call accordingly. “We have not come across any tourist reactions at the moment. It would depend more on how things shape up in the coming weeks and the media attention that it attracts,” he said. On possibilities of ticket prices being impacted, he added, “Slashing of prices takes place only in case of prolonged strikes. For instance, ticket prices were impacted significantly after the situation in Thailand,” he added.
The country’s national carrier, Egypt Air, Emirates and Etihad Airways are the key airlines for Indian travellers visiting Egypt.
