Tourists returned slowly and last year there were a record number of visitors to the country, including 345,000 Britons. The number of Britons visiting in the first quarter of 2005 increased by more than 50 per cent, to 134,000, compared with the same period last year.

The increases continued. More than 819,000 tourists visited Egypt in April, 13 per cent up on 723,000 in
April 2004, the central bank said in its monthly bulletin. Visitors stayed a total of 7.43 million nights in April, up from 6.65 million in April, 2004. Tourism is one of Egypt’s key foreign currency earners, along with Suez Canal receipts, remittances from Egyptian expatriates and gas exports.

So tour operators believe it is safe to travel presumably, if they are continuing to develop the industry in Egypt?

It appears so. GB Airways, a BA franchise, is launching flights from Gatwick to Sharm El Sheik and Hurghada from October 22. The only existing flights between the UK and the Egyptian Red Sea riviera are currently offered by Egypt Air, which operates a weekly flight from London to Sharm El Sheik.

Sharm El Sheik - where Tony Blair and his family holidayed at Christmas, 2003 - will be served three days a week by British Airways, leaving on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and Hurghada twice a week on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Taba Heights is also a fairly new resort. The British-owned airline Astraeus Airways started flying there in July, 2002 - at that stage, the airport had no restaurant, bars or duty-free shops. Ten resort hotels now operate and three other British charter airlines also fly there.

So what's the bottom line?

Since the Luxor massacre of 1997, in which 58 foreigners were killed, there has been a huge review of security and it's probably fair to say that tourists visiting Egypt now have the most visible protection at popular sites anywhere in the world. The Foreign Office also says that Egypt has made "considerable efforts" to improve the safety and security of tourists in the Sinai and other tourist sites. They may even insist on escorting travellers in some areas, says the FCO.

Half the 9,000 Britons in Sharm-el-Sheik on Saturday opted to come home, and those booked to travel were able to obtain refunds or take another holiday by midnight on Monday. One tour operator, Kuoni, is waiving amendment fees until Sunday (July 31) if customers wish to switch to another holiday. However, if they wish to cancel then normal charges and fees come into effect on Tuesday (July 27) - a policy being applied by other operators.

Should you avoid any areas?

The FCO does not specify any areas but the US last month warned visitors not to visit crowded areas, such as the bazaar in Cairo where three people died on April 7.

So I suppose that means more deals for Egypt?

Inevitably - the country is used to rolling with it and £300 for-a-week offers have remained commonplace since the 1997 attack. A Sunday Times article found that in December, an Egypt-based company would tailor-make an an eight-day tour of Cairo and the Pyramids, the desert and two days by the sea for just £237 per person. Deals for £259 to Taba have been commonplace in the spring. And expect more of the same for Luxor and Sharm this summer.

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