Ban of alcohol and bikinis in Egypt can harm the tourist flow

The winter season in Egypt might end up under a threat of failure. One of the local politic parties, which intends to come to power after the elections this autumn, proclaimed their intention to introduce new rules on the country’s Red Sea resorts. Among major changes are the ban of alcohol and the prohibition to appear in a public place wearing an open swimming suit – reports RIANovosti. Obviously, Russian tour operators don’t approve of the new regulations and afraid that they might lead to the decrease of the tourist flow to the country that hasn’t fully recovered from the February revolution.

Generally, the intention to force foreigners to abide the dry law and dress-code was being discussed in Egypt long ago, but eventually it didn’t go beyond the discussions. However if the radical islamists manage to come to power the issue might become the actual law. The country’s tourism officials are sure that if the things would go this way, the travel industry might turn out to be at serious risk. Any restrictions in the travel sector will make the tourists spend their vacations in another country, with more friendly laws.

The revolution has already taken away a significant share of income from Egypt’s treasury. Last February the fall of the tourist flow was recorded at a rate of around 80%. In July Egypt’s acting Minister for Tourism Mr. Abdel Nour Mounir Fakhry announced that these figure reached 19%. Thus, Egypt is gradually remediating the volumes of inbound tourist flow. This was confirmed by the Russian tour operators’ statistics. For example, PR-Director of TEZ Tour, Mrs. Marina Makarkova says that the sales of itineraries to the land of the pyramids have grown by 20-25% this August, compared to same figures of the previous year. However she didn’t speak of the country’s prospects in connection with the possible changes, having said that so far it would be just words.

Meanwhile some forecasts show that in case of implementing of these new rules in Egypt the tourists might prefer other, not as conservative resorts. “There are similar restrictions for wearing swimming suits in public in UAE, but tourists have already got used and accepted the rules. It could take a lot of time for tourists to come to the same understanding with Egypt. The tour operators might even close the destination for some time” – deems the Head of Egypt Department of Vand International Tour, Mrs. Tatiana Markova.

Statistically 80% of all the tourists in Egypt come to Red Sea resorts to stay at an all-inclusive hotel.