Tourism ministry categorically denies news about travel bans on Egypt

Egypt's Tourism Ministry categorically denied on Friday media reports claiming that Ireland, Canada, England and Australia issued travel bans on Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Luxor.

The reports claimed that all European countries would take similar steps.

The ministry spokeswoman Rasha el Azayzi told MENA that these reports are completely baseless.

There is no change in these countries' travel advisory to Egypt, the spokeswoman said.

The ministry is constantly monitoring travel warnings, and if any country issues such warnings, all actions would be taken in coordination with all concerned authorities to cancel it, she added.

Tourism Minister Khaled Ramy has already met with ambassadors accredited to Cairo, specifically from the major countries exporting tourism to Egypt, and briefed them on the real situation and developments in the country, el Azayzi said.

As for the travel ban issued by Poland, she said the ministry contacted with officials of the Polish Embassy, Egypt's ambassador in Poland, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Ambassador Hatem Seif El Nasr and Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs Abu Bakr Hefny to discuss the Polish decision in this regard, she added.

Earlier in the month, the Polish Foreign Ministry has advised its citizens against traveling to Egypt.

The Polish decision is due mainly to the financial crisis there, the spokeswoman said.