The Swiss foreign ministry has issued a warning against tourist trips and any non-urgent visits to Egypt in view of the current violence between security forces and demonstrators.
In a message on its website updated on Friday, it says that there is a danger that the unrest could spread throughout the country. It advised any Swiss citizens currently in Egypt to keep themselves informed about the situation, to obey instructions from the security forces – including orders about curfews – and to avoid any demonstrations and large gatherings of people.
Meanwhile the major Swiss holiday companies are not planning to evacuate holidaymakers for the moment, but are offering anyone who has a trip booked for any time up to September 20 the chance to change or cancel their booking free of charge.
The date was set because the state of emergency is due to last until the middle of September. After that time the companies will decide on the basis of developments.
About a thousand Swiss are currently holidaying on the Red Sea, which has so far remained more or less untouched by events in the capital and other major cities.
The Migros agency Hotelplan announced on its website on Friday that in view of the foreign ministry advisory, it had cancelled all holidays up to September 20. As far as customers currently in Egypt are concerned, the local representatives are discussing possibilities for an early return with individual passengers who wish to leave. In case of need, extra flights will be organised. It said it was monitoring the situation closely, and would keep customers informed via its websites.
The website of the Kuoni travel agency repeated the foreign ministry warning,
but said that although it included the Red Sea resorts, there was no need to evacuate visitors already there since it was currently peaceful.
Despite the foreign ministry warning, Swiss International Air Lines still said on its website on Friday evening that it is continuing to fly to Cairo and to its Egyptian destinations on the Red Sea. However, its on-line timetable showed direct flights to and from Cairo cancelled next Tuesday and Thursday.
The website says that passengers flying to or from Egypt at any date up to September 30 may change their date of departure once at no extra charge as long as the flight is taken by November 3. However, they may not change the destination.
It says it is monitoring the situation and will keep passengers informed via its website.