Egypt to resume tourist flights from July 1 – despite rising coronavirus cases and strict curfew

EGYPT is resuming international flights from next month – despite coronavirus cases continuing to rise in the country.

Resorts such as South Sinai and the Red Sea, whose resort cities of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada are among the most attractive tourist destinations worldwide, will be back on the map for tourists from July 1.

Cairo Airport will remain closed to international commercial flights until further notice.

Egypt suspended regular international flights in March and shut down restaurants, hotels and cafes due to the pandemic.

Apart from the resorts, however, other international flights will remain suspended until further notice.

The country is also offering other incentives, such as the removal of tourist visas and 20 per cent discounts to visit attractions and landmarks.

"Among the most important incentives is the cancellation of the need for tourist visas of visitors to Egypt's touristic governorates until Oct. 31," the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Despite it being good news for holidaymakers hoping to return in time for the summer holidays, coronavirus cases are on the rise still in some regions.

Egypt, a country of around 100 million people, has reported 39,726 coronavirus cases, including 1,377 deaths.

New daily cases have stayed above 1,000 over the past two weeks.

A curfew is also still in place in the country, although is slowly being lifted and is now from 8pm to 4am.

Until cases begin to slow down, tourists may be wary about returning any time soon.

Brits hoping for a summer holiday abroad are also restricted by the current 14-day quarantine in place in the UK.

EasyJet, Ryanair, and BA have launched legal action to end the quarantine as they warn it will devastate the travel industry.

The UK government is also yet to lift the travel ban on non-essential travel abroad.

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