Egypt is one destination that makes it to everyone's bucket list. The fascination starts from the school days itself when you read all those tales of the Pyramids, Mummies, and their mind-boggling treasures. Everyone wants to visit this mysterious country. However, over the recent years, one question which is on everyone's mind is 'Is Egypt Safe to travel'? The political upheaval some years back has really damaged Egypt's reputation. For about a decade, tourism in Egypt had come to a halt because of the discords going on in Egypt and neighboring countries. The country is now quite peaceful but the question still plagues the tourists coming to Egypt from all parts of the world.
I was fortunate enough to visit Egypt in November 2019. I had an amazing time and I never felt that I was unsafe. After hearing about all the concerns about safety issues, I decided to book a group tour. When I landed in Cairo with my daughter, everything seemed good. Wherever I went, I had no major issues. The people are very friendly, there are guards everywhere and we have to go through lots of security checks. The places are crowded and bursting with visitors and vendors. So where is the question of feeling unsafe? You might be pestered by the locals trying to sell their products, but they are quite harmless and over-friendly people who are trying to sell their goods. It is better to smile and keep walking. Don't respond and they will leave you alone. Keep a check on your belongings which is a requirement for any tourist places you visit, even advanced countries like Paris and Italy.
However, if you are traveling to border cities like Abu-Simbel, it is better that you travel in a group. The groups travel with armed security personnel who can help you in times of emergency In fact, traveling in a group is the best way to travel in Egypt. You don't have to use public transport, you are escorted everywhere, and you are given tips to deal with the over-zealous local people. There are lots of fake products circulated. The group managers guide you and take you to the right places to buy products. They get a commission, but at least you are buying genuine products.
There is rampant poverty in Egypt and people are in desperate need of money. Tourism is the major source of income in Egypt. You can't help feeling helpless and desolate seeing the state of the Egyptian people. Despite all the hardships, the locals are very cheerful and positive. But you can see poverty and desperation wherever you go. The only way we can help is by visiting the historical country so that the magnificent monuments are preserved in the best way possible.
Many countries today are not safe and visiting them means there is some risk involved. If you are careful and take some precautions, you should be able to travel safely. A mystical place like Egypt cannot be ignored for long. The Pyramids look to be in a very vulnerable condition and you are not sure when will they crumble down. So it is better if you make a decision and visit the historical country before it is a part of history.
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