Travel companies cancel Egypt tours in wake of unrest

AUSTRALIANS with trips booked to Egypt are being offered refunds or the chance to switch to other destinations or future tours

An Egyptian man looking for customers in front of the pyramids in Giza. Picture: AFP Photo/Fayez Nureldine

AUSTRALIANS with trips booked to Egypt are being offered refunds, the chance to switch to other destinations or to travel at a later date in the wake of ongoing violence and political unrest.

The Egyptian Government declared a month-long state of emergency last week, including an overnight curfew between 7pm and 6am.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Egypt.

Travel Corporation brands including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Contiki made the decision this week to cancel tours until September 15, with clients offered refunds, alternative dates or new destinations. Tempo Holidays tours are "on hold".

"Customers can absolutely travel if they wish - Nile cruise vessels are operating and hotels are open to receive guests as normal," a spokeswoman says. "However as the Egyptian Government has closed key tourist sites as a precaution and there is a curfew, Tempo is suggesting to clients that they don't travel as obviously sightseeing will be limited."

Intrepid Travel has cancelled trips until October, but says passengers concerned about travelling after that can transfer to another trip without amendment fees.

Managing director James Thornton says many people were disappointed as Egypt was the trip of a lifetime.

"We're getting information from our Cairo office and they're saying the trouble is in certain parts of central Cairo and while it's intermittently spreading to other cities most of the tourism sites remain untroubled, but it's a fluid and volatile situation," he says.

World Expeditions has cancelled all Egypt trips until further notice. "As people want to be assured they have a holiday that is guaranteed and that they can look forward to, the recent escalation with political and civil unrest in Egypt puts that notion in question," CEO Sue Badyari says. "We believe travellers should be able to make alternative plans as the unrest does not look like it will abate in the near future."

Bunnik Tours has cancelled tours until September 10. It is offering refunds or transfers to other tours, but it has warned it cannot take responsibility for airfares not booked through its office. Tours from September 11-30 will run as scheduled, but passengers booked can cancel or change tours.

While commercial flights continue to operate to Egypt, delays and cancellations of flights have been reported.

For the latest information see smartraveller.gov.au