Egypt is one of the world’s best destinations for winter sun and it’s also an affordable option for Britons on a budget.
But how safe is Egypt for holidays in 2024? The Foreign Office advises against all travel and all but essential travel to some areas of Egypt but not the main tourist destinations.
The Foreign Office advises against all travel to the Egypt-Libya border and the North Sinai while it advises against all but essential travel to the Northern part of South Sinai, the eastern part of the Ismailiyah Governorate, some areas of the Western Desert and the Hala’ib Triangle and Bir Tawil Trapezoid.
None of these warnings cover popular tourist destinations such as the beach resort Hurghada, Luxor or Cairo.
Since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, a number of demonstrations have taken place in Egypt and could take place at short notice.
Terrorists are very likely to carry out attacks in Egypt and targets could include places visited by foreigners.
The Foreign Office states there is a significant security presence including at major tourist sites.
Egypt’s crime rate is considered to be generally low but tourists should take extra care when travelling alone, particularly at night.
The FCDO advice states: “There are a number of sexual assaults reported to the British Embassy, including cases involving minors.
“The majority of cases that have been reported took place in tourist resorts in the Red Sea region, often committed by someone the victim had already met, including hotel workers and excursion staff. There have also been reports of hotel staff discouraging incidents being reported to local police.”
The Foreign Office advises female travellers to exercise caution when travelling alone, especially at night.
Children and young people should always be accompanied by known and trusted people and tourists should try to avoid travelling in a taxi alone.
Tourists should also avoid sharing personal contact and social media details and use reputable companies to book excursions.
The majority of holidays in Egypt are trouble-free and tourists can find the latest travel advice on the Government website.