Egypt: full of cheer but empty of tourists
By Robert Dixon
“I would say this is the time to go” says Vivenne Morris, who recently returned from our Nile Cruise.
On 25th January 2011 a small group of people gathered to protest against alleged human rights abuses and corruption of the Egyptian government. Over the next 18 days, until President Mubarak resigned, that small crowd grew to three million people. Now the ‘lotus revolution’ is over travellers are starting to trickle back to this ‘must see’ destination and four and a half thousand years after the Great Pyramid was built, Cairo has a new tourist attraction – Tahrir (Liberation) Square.
“After we have seen the Mummies can we see the Daddies?” asked my son on a recent visit to the British Museum. Last May half-term I was fortunate enough to take my family to Egypt to see the Mummies for themselves! They now have a better unde
rstanding of all things ‘Mummy’ and even know what a hieroglyphic is. It was a great shock to us, as it was for everyone, when the country became off-limits for tourists. It’s a great relief that the situation is getting back to normal and on the 4th of March we announced that all of our trips would be operating as normal.
A number of Exodus groups have now completed their post-revolution travels to Egypt; as a recent visitor I wanted to find out how their holidays had gone. I contacted some clients who have recently returned; this is what they had to say about their experiences.
Our clients commented:
“I certainly wouldn’t say we had the place to ourselves, but we were told throughout that the level of tourists was 5% of normal”. Jane Richardson (Nile Cruise, AEN).
“There was the chance to take photographs and to explore the site without having to jostle with the tourist crowds”.
David Morgan (Highlights of Egypt, AEQ).
“You can get pictures without anyone in them. The Nile which normally has about 350 boats on it had about 15”.
Vivenne Morris (Nile Cruise, AEN).
"All the sites we visited were very quiet. Indeed there were occasions (particularly less visited places) when we were the only tourists there.”
Ian Roberts (Egyptology, AEE).
On the subject of crowds, The Telegraph stated: “The great temples of Luxor and Karnak normally heave with 6,000 visitors a day; there were 30 to 40 on the days we were in town”.
From further feedback from our clients, it was interesting to hear that the Egyptian people are very pleased to see visitors returning. The Telegraph states: “Wherever we went there are smiles, salaams and thumbs-up signs”.
Our clients commented:
“We’ve just had the perfect holiday, due to the lack of tourists, but really felt for the Egyptians who rely on the tourist trade”. Vivenne Morris (Nile Cruise, AEN).
“The vast majority of Egyptians we met were very friendly and appeared to be glad to see us”.
Ian Roberts (Egyptology, AEE).
In addition to the lack of crowds and warm welcome, our clients felt extremely gratified to be part of living history.
They commented:
“It was also extremely interesting to hear the views of educated Egyptians on the subject of the revolution”.
Jane Richardson (Nile Cruise, AEN).
“We want to support them in their peaceful revolution, and pray for a good outcome for them”.
Vivenne Morris (Nile Cruise, AEN).
“The tour guide was excellent, and it was a good time to go when the country is changing and you hear about it from the inside, as our guide gave us and evening when we could ask him questions about what is going on”.
Vivenne Morris (Nile Cruise, AEN).
To celebrate the arrival of a new Egypt, Exodus is offering £100 off these very special trips:
Nile Cruise
Egyptian Discoverer
Egyptology
Sinai Desert Adventure - Family Holiday
Egyptian Explorer - Family Holiday
Easter Departures
Highlights of Egypt - 16th April '11 departure only
Sinai Trek - 16th April '11 departure only
Terms & Conditions:
Discounts valid from 4th March to 30th April 2011 for any future travel on these specific trips until 30th September 2011 for new bookings only.
