EGYPT: Couple Say Egypt Hotel Attack Will Not Deter Tourists

A couple who were in Egypt when three holidaymakers were stabbed on Friday have said they hope the attack will not affect the country's tourism industry.

Dan Butler and Justine Gosling returned safely to the UK on Sunday after spending the Christmas period in El Gouna – 40 minutes from the Red Sea resort of Hurghada where two Austrians and a Swede were attacked by two suspected Islamic State militants who stormed into the four-star Bella Vista Hotel.

Dan said that extra security checks had been put in place following the incident.

The freelance management consultant said: "We have been to Egypt 15 times over the last six years.

"The situation regarding the stabbing seemed confused. News reports at this end suggested it was not terrorists but two disgruntled shop owners who had been evicted from their concessions at the hotel and were trying to extort money from tourists.

"It's a shame as I've seen lots of posts on Facebook from people saying they will now not be travelling again to Egypt.

"We have never felt under threat any time we have been there, even during the revolution.

"The hotel had mainly British, Dutch and German residents and was only 40 per cent full due to the incident at Sharm El Sheikh a few months ago.

"The hotel staff, who we know well, have told us that there have been many cancellations since the plane crash and they have had to shut the hotel in Sharm, redeploying staff to Hurghada and Marsa Alam or laying them off.

"I spoke to the hotel owner and he was very worried about the effect that these incidents are having on tourism."

He said he and Justine woke to a flurry of messages from friends concerned about their welfare after the news of the attack broke.

Dan said: "At first it was suggested that it was an Isil terror attack from the sea and guns were used in the assault. Naturally we were pretty nervous and spoke to a few residents and staff to see what they knew.

"A member of staff had been in Hurghada and was close to the incident. He had spoken to witnesses and clearly someone had the wrong information."

It was reported that roads into Hurghada were closed but Dan and Justine did not see any roadblocks on the way to the airport.

Dan said: "My experience of security checks at Hurghada was that they could be better. Even though there were two x-ray checks and a full bag search, they did not check my digital camera was working and missed my tablet altogether.

"We also heard about a woman who had travelled through Hurghada airport with her daughter's passport.

"Clearly there were still some security holes to be filled and these things do make you feel less safe.

"But security at the airport was very tight on the way back, with extra layers of security in place, making it tiring to get through to departures."

Bella Vista Resort wrote on its Facebook page on Saturday morning that 'the whole situation didn't take more than four minutes'.

It said: "Two drugged young men attacked one of our hotel restaurants with a fake gun (plastic) and small knives. One of the attackers used his knife trying to stab some of our guests and then our security and the hotel policeman dealt within seconds with the two attackers and shot them down. One was killed by police and the other was injured and captured.

"The three guests are ok now. One left the hospital within two hours after the attack and the other two left the hospital this morning.

"Any other rumours or news is nonsense. Most probably to make propaganda that will affect the tourism in Egypt badly, and that was the main aim."

The attack at Bella Vista came hours after Isis claimed responsibility for an attack on a hotel near the Pyramids of Giza on Thursday, when no-one was injured.