Thomas Cook cancels Egypt excursions amid heightened security fears
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Travel operators to Egypt have remained on high alert, after violent demonstrations spread across the popular tourist destination. Following on from protests in Tunisia and Jordan, Egyptians have begun a series of anti-government protests leading to hundreds of people being arrested. Travel giant Thomas Cook cancelled all of its excursions to the country’s capital Cairo from Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea as a precautionary measure. As one of the most popular holiday destinations for British tourists, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is now warning travellers to remain vigilant at all times. “There have been a number of violent demonstrations in Cairo and other locations across Egypt, including Suez, North Sinai, Rafah, the Delta region and some areas of Upper Egypt over the past week,” read a statement from the FCO. “The situation is unpredictable and may change quickly. There are press reports of calls for large scale demonstrations on Friday 28 January after midday mosque prayers. You should exercise caution, and observe instructions given by local security authorities and tour operators.” In a statement, TUI Travel also told the Daily Telegraph: “We are aware of the protests currently taking place in Cairo and are monitoring the situation and taking FCO advice. The vast majority of our tour operations are in Sharm el Sheikh, which is a considerable distance – indeed, an eight hour drive - from Cairo. Obviously the health and safety of our customers and staff in the destination remains our top priority and we will of course continue to assess the situation.”
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