Saudi travelers still eye Egypt for a vacation

Saudis intending to visit Egypt this summer holiday are not concerned over the latest unrest that left the country's security considerably ‘unsafe’ for foreigners to visit.

“Spring vacation bookings are all filled up and there are many Saudis and Egyptians going to Egypt for the one week vacation,” Mohammed al-Sharif, general manager at the travel agency in Jeddah, told the Saudi-based paper Arab News.

Naif al-Fakieh, a Saudi copywriter who is a frequent traveler to Egypt is undeterred this time to visit the North African country.

“I have no problem going to Egypt because Egypt is safe all the time. If there are any accidents or attacks, they are isolated incidents and not widespread,” Naif said. He said that before he takes his family to Egypt in summer, he would go alone first to check the situation.

Meanwhile, Saudi businesswoman Amira Al-Jaffrey who visits Egypt every year, plans to go after the protests completely recede.

“I’m not afraid of the security situation because to me Egypt is a safe place. I was planning to go after these events, but I was afraid I would see bad changes in my favorite place,” she said. Al-Jaffrey added that she would go to Egypt next summer.

Ahmed Al-Sayed, an employee at a private company, said he never visited Egypt before but this vacation he would go to see the historical changes that have happened there.

“I usually spend my short vacation in Dubai or Beirut, but this year I’ll go to Egypt,” he said.

He added that he would go with his family, and that he wanted to visit Tahrir Square and hopefully stand next to an army tank to take pictures.