Chairman of Egyptian Travel Agents Association (ETAA) and Thomas Cook operator Blue Sky Group Hossam El Shaer said that Thomas Cook's bankruptcy wouldn't affect the number of tourists in Egypt.
In statements to SEE on Thursday, El Shaer dismissed any reports on the decline in the number of tourists coming to Egypt, because the country is strong, stable, and investment-friendly.
El Shaer uncovered: "After the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook's German subsidiary, the German government decided to bear costs of accommodation and return of the German tourists in Egypt who came through Thomas Cook.
"There is no accurate number of the Thomas Cook's German tourists, but they range between 3,000 and 4,000 tourists," El Shaer stated.
"Thomson Travel (TUI) is the strongest alternative company to bring British tourists again after Thomas Cook's bankruptcy," he further noted.
El Shaer pointed out that the bankruptcy happened for many reasons including the tour operator's financial crisis over the few years, the Brexit, and refusal of the UK government and private sector to pump more money to the company.
"By the end of 2019, Egypt will witness an increase in the number of tourists by at least 30% compared to 2018," he expected.
He also warned of the negative impacts of the tourism online market on the tour operators, citing fake Facebook pages which organize trips without the Tourism Ministry's license.
He called for the House of the Representatives to enact legislation to deter anyone working in the tourism field without a license.
Earlier on Monday, ETAA chief said about 25,000 reservations in Egypt booked up to April 2020 had been cancelled.
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