German travel giant resumes some tours to Egypt
1BERLIN (AP) — Travel operator TUI Deutschland says it is resuming some tours to Egypt after the German government relaxed its travel advice for the country.
The German branch of travel giant TUI PLC says it will reopen hotels and begin flights to the Red Sea coast immediately.
The company said in a statement Wednesday that it was also considering resuming tours to Cairo, Luxor and the Nile.
Like most European travel companies TUI halted tours to Egypt after an Aug. 14 crackdown against followers of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.
The move was a blow to Egypt’s tourism industry, which once accounted for over 11 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
Company spokeswoman Anja Braun said Egypt is TUI Deutschland’s seventh-most popular destination, particularly favored by European sun-seekers during the winter months.