Egypt hopes Chinese visitors can make up for Russian tourism decline
Egypt's tourism sector is working to attract the largest possible number of tourists to offset its recent heavy losses, especially in light of the sharp decline in Russian tourism.
CAIRO — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov told Sputnik News Feb. 22 that the missiles fired from the Sinai Peninsula toward the Israeli Red Sea city of Eilat could further complicate any decision to resume Russian tourist flights to Egypt.
Following the Russian plane crash in Sinai on Oct. 31, 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a proposal by the Russian Federation's Federal Security Service to suspend flights to and from Egypt.
In mid-July 2016, sources in the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation said that Russian flights to Egypt would resume shortly, after the Russian side verified Egypt's improvements in airport security, especially that Egypt abide by the necessary international security requirements in airports.
However, Egyptian Tourism Minister Yehia Rashed said during a phone call with TV show "Innfrad" on Al-Aseema TV Feb. 27 that there is no definitive information available about the resumption of Russian flights to Egypt.
