The shooting of 58 tourists by Islamic terrorists was one of 13 attacks on tourists in Egypt since 1993. It came with a warning by the militant group to tourists not to visit Egypt.
Egyptian Tourism Minister Dr. Mamdouh el Bel-Tagi said there was violence around the world. "Egypt is not less safe than anywhere else in the world." He accused tour operators of panicking when UK operators sent seven jets to evacuate some 3,000 British holidaymakers in Egypt at the time of the shootings.
"If people give in and play the game the terrorists want by not travelling to Egypt, it will cripple the Egyptian economy," said Bahgat Badawi, marketing director for the Egyptian Hotel Association. Badawi called the incident sad and senseless but said it was turned into panic by operators. The major difference in the attacks, he notes, is that five years ago the terrorists would have gotten away. Instead, six were killed by local police and villagers. "They didn't get away with it this time," he said.
Egypt's ambassador to the UK and Ireland Adel El-Gazar said, this kind of criminal act will not prevent tourists from going to Egypt. "It's an individual act and is limited. It is a situation that can be faced in Florida, Oklahoma or Australia-anywhere in the world."
Since tourism is Egypt's top foreign exchange earner, tourism officials will continue to encourage visitors to the country while beefing up security.