All news
Russian tourists in Egypt warned of new danger: "Better stay in the hotel"
The reception desks of several hotels posted notices with dangerous routes for internal travel, recommending not to travel to the border areas of five provinces, including the Sinai Peninsula, where the Sharm elves live. It is located in Sheikh, a popular destination for Russians, and is also a favorite place for Russian divers, whose peak season is in the fall. Egypt borders Libya to the west, Israel to the east, and Sudan to the south, so, strictly speaking, Egypt's "borders" include Hurghada, where Russians go on vacation, and Giza and Aswan, where tourists go on excursions. . . Meanwhile, the memorandum says that "armed gangs are active" on the roads between these settlements.
"We are staying in a hotel with a lot of Europeans," says Denis, an attentive tourist from St. Petersburg who is currently on holiday in Sharm, Egypt. "The instructions are written in English at the reception, but we don't accept them. And I was shocked when I received it! The British Foreign Office warns tourists that travelling to some parts of Egypt can be life-threatening! And they sell us tourist products there!"
Other compatriots currently vacationing in Egyptian resorts have also noticed that Europeans are now refusing to take long trips and cruises on the Nile. The reason is warnings from European authorities about the possibility of falling into the hands of bandits who can profit from holding European tourists hostage. This probability is especially high in areas bordering Sudan and Libya. In particular, the British Foreign Office recommends checking whether "your guide is professional and has permission to travel to a specific area. In border areas, telephone service is limited, there is no ambulance service, some roads are closed and there are military checkpoints." is."
Denis says: "We bought a boat trip to Dahab to go diving. But when I saw the note, I started calling the embassy. They officially do not recommend going to Aswan, where intestinal infections are common. However, in a private conversation, he advised: "It is better to stay in a hotel."
Dahab is a "Mecca" for Russian divers, and the diving season begins at the end of October. Deep-sea diving enthusiasts usually purchase specialized tours and travel independently from Sharm airport to the outskirts of Dahab, where local Russian-speaking guides are waiting for them. We found out whether our compatriots who bought diving tours to the border zone with Egypt received warnings upon sale.
“Of course,” says Vladimir, a technical diver with 20 years of experience. “We just base it on the facts: if they take you hostage, come.” But our tourist will always find a reason why the risk does not concern him personally. For example, I have been diving from a yacht near the border with Sudan for about 15 years, taking a break only during the pandemic. Of course, we have our own long-standing company. As our guys say, here we can see every shark with our own eyes, so no warning, especially from some Brits, will stop us.
- By the way, have you heard that armed gangs are approaching Israel? You're the closest one there.
- Of course, I heard that. There was a trip from Sharm to Jerusalem via Taba earlier, but it was cancelled. And many Russians were not affected by any ban. Egypt is kind to us, the resorts feed both the tourism industry and us, so it is not profitable for anyone to scare Russian tourists... The main thing is to get there from the airport. I miss people wearing scuba diving gear.
Russians just heading to Mount Sinai express similar optimism. In private conversations, Russian diplomats in Egypt merely warn their compatriots outside the large fenced-in hotels, especially those traveling around the country on their own. There is no risk in organized Russian excursions, accompanied by local guides and with the permission of all local authorities. But when small groups travel around the country on their own, anything can happen.