Executive Director of the Russian Tour Operators' Association (ATOR) Maya Lomidze said Friday that tourist areas in Egypt are safe, calling on tourists not to leave before the end of their recreation trips.
Lomidze added in a press statement that none of the Russian tourists in Egypt have expressed a desire to return to Russia, which indicates that they believe everything is fine.
According to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Lomidze noted in her remarks that the militant group called Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis had warned tourists in Egypt not to remain in the country after Thursday, and threatened to attack any tourist who stays after the deadline.
"According to the available information, no [significant number of] foreign tourists have left Egypt, which means that the international community has not yielded to the threats of terrorist group," Lomidze said.
Lomidze had reported earlier that rough estimates indicate that more than 35,000 Russian tourists were in Egypt.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
