The crash of the Russian plane over North Sinai last year had badly affected the tourism movement in Egypt and driven away four million tourists in a moment, Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou said on Thursday.

In late October, the Russian plane crashed over Sinai, 23 minutes after its take-off from Sharm El Sheikh, leaving all 224 people on board dead.

"The incident posed major security, political and tourist challenges in Egypt," Zaazou told a press conference in Berlin.

"Millions of Egyptians are working in full safety and security across the country," he said.

However, he added, the international media conveys a gloomy picture about the situation in Egypt.

"Egypt is an important tourist destination," he stressed.

Egypt revised all measures of securing its airports, he said.

Source: MENA