Sharm el-Sheikh is witnessing a larger number of Egyptian visitors compared to foreigners following a media-backed campaign to urge locals to visit the city to offset the damage to tourism revenue following the Russian plane crash.
Hundreds of Egyptians are flowing into the Red Sea resort, apparently in response to a media and government call following moves by Russia and the UK to recall their tourists as the theory grows of a possible terrorist operation behind the plane crash.
"I arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh two days ago to spend my honeymoon,” said Ali Khalifa, a newly-wed.
"We had decided to spend it at Marsa Alam, but changed plans after the Russian plane crash that prompted many countries to suspend flights to the city,” Khalifa said, noting that his decision came in response to calls to boost domestic tourism.
Saeed Mahrous, 52, said he had taken a month-long leave from his work in Kuwait and decided to spend the final 12 days in Sharm el-Sheikh. “Foreign media has promoted an unreal picture about Sharm el-Sheikh as if there is a war going on. One colleague in Kuwait wondered how we could make it to the city because he believed it was closed down after he watched TV reports.”
Amani Abdel Fattah, 38, believes that the talk surrounding the plane crash as an instance of terrorism has become part of an alleged conspiracy by the West to damage Egypt's image. “European countries are leading a real campaign to damage the Egyptian economy,” she said.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
