How to stay safe while travelling in Egypt

Since the events at Tahrir Square, many tourists have been reluctant to travel to Egypt. Each time a new incident arises, tentative travellers would cancel their plans with renewed concerns. The result has seen the country's visitor numbers fall by some 90%.

With international press holding a dim view of safety in the country, Egypt's Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazou has even spoke of promoting Egypt without Cairo.

But is Egypt too dangerous to travel to? And how can you stay safe whilst there?

General safety

Egypt is a developing country for which one of the major sources of income is tourism. As a result, there is a dedicated police force for tourists. And in many respects, the risks of travel are no more than any other parts of the world.

It's worthwhile to be vigilant with your belongings when out and about as tourist areas can get very busy. If you're travelling independently (without a tour group), and especially if you're a lone traveller, it's worth checking into a nicer hotel and avoiding public transport.

Due to the increased perception of risk, many hotel and tour operators have stepped up their security to make their international guests feel protected. Many have hired armed guards to travel with their tour groups.

For the most up to date information about a region, the Foreign Office is still the best guide. The travel advice status is regularly updated Monday to Friday while the general safety information lists every major incident over the last few years.

If for nothing else, you know that you will be insured as many travel insurance companies will follow its advice. If you're not sure, it's always worth checking with your insurer.

Out and about

You can safely walk on the streets, even at night but you should always carry some form of ID and avoid any signs of trouble. Many people speak a little English but most will speak only Arabic.

People will offer to show you tourist spots for payment or invite you to take a tour on their horse drawn carriages. If you're not interested, simply ignore them. If you want to take photos, it's always wise to ask first.