WTTC, UNWTO urge UK to return flights to Sharm el Sheikh

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) called on the United Kingdom to lift the ban on UK-based airlines flying to Sharm El Sheikh.

In a letter sent to British Prime Minister Theresa May, David Scowsill, president and CEO of the WTTC, and Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of the UNWTO, stressed the importance of resuming operations to the Egyptian resort as the current travel advisory is having devastating effects on the country’s economy and social stability. 

Travel and tourism are vital to Egypt’s economy and social peace, contributing by 11 per cent of the country’s GDP and providing 2.6 million jobs in 2015, the two officials said. 

The Egyptian authorities have taken significant measures to step up the level of security not only in the airport but in the surrounding area as well, said the UNWTO, in a statement obtained by MENA.

These improvements now meet the safety standards as indicated by the UK Department for Transport, added the statement, noting that all other countries, including Germany and Russia, have allowed their airlines to start flying to Sharm el Sheikh again.

Source: MENA