The first assurance a country that hopes to attract tourists should be able to give is that visitors will return home safely. This is why safety is an important issue, and one of the reasons why many countries invest heavily on airport security measures. In tourism, safety is all about perception, as Egypt is now discovering.
Although the cause of the Russian Metrojet crash nearly two weeks ago remains unproven, concerns that it was brought down by a bomb smuggled on board by an insider at Sharm El Sheikh International Airport has led Britain and Russia to evacuate their citizens and suspend further inward flights. Other potential visitors are staying away, fearing a similar attack. As The National reported yesterday, the country stands to lose 2.2 billion Egyptian pounds (Dh1 billion) a month as a result.
This lack of confidence is a major blow to Egyptian tourism. Even though the insurgency in northern Sinai has dissuaded many people from travelling to large parts of the country, Sharm El Sheikh has always enjoyed a steady flow of visitors because it was considered to be a safe haven. Along with the ancient wonders that attract tourists to Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, the beach-resort town has been a mainstay of tourism, which supports up to 10 per cent of the Egyptian population.
Security incidents involving tourists generate saturation media coverage, prompting foreign embassies to issue stern travel advisories against non-essential travel. The challenge for Egypt is to restore faith in the integrity of its airport security systems, and this will be daunting. However, it is achievable – the country faced a similar slump in tourism after terror attacks that targeted tourists in Luxor in 1997 led to the death of 62 people.
The Egyptian authorities need to outline what they are doing to address any security failings. Unless they act swiftly, potential visitors will choose another destination and the millions of people who rely on income generated by tourism will suffer. This incident should also serve as a wake-up call to other destinations to ensure that their security measures are up to the world’s best practice.
