Egypt's failure to clamp down on terrorism in Sinai, an ongoing failure that led to last month's terror attacks in the Eilat area, has badly hurt Egyptian hoteliers and tourist site operators in Sinai. Hotels in Sinai are largely empty because of cancellations by Israeli Arabs, who normally flock to Sinai for family vacations.
Sinai hotel operators said they had also seen cancellations by tourists from Jordan and other Arab countries after the terror attacks in which eight Israelis were killed.
Israeli Arabs seeking to get away were opting for destinations like Turkey and Greece, the Daka90 travel site reported. Hotels in Amman and other destinations in Jordan also registered a marked increase in reservations this week from Israeli Arabs.
Egypt does not reveal what percentage of Sinai tourists hail from Israel, but hoteliers say it is significant. Dozens of hotels and bed & breakfasts were virtually empty in Taba, located near the border with Israel -- and a popular destination for Israeli Arabs -- but also in southern Sinai. Other hotels, however, said they had seen only a slight decrease in bookings.
On Monday, Israeli officials warned of another possible terror attack in the south and large security forces were spread out along the border. Several roads near the border have been sealed off for civilian traffic.
On Tuesday, Home Front Command director and Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilna'i said that at least ten terrorists were planning to launch an attack in the Eilat area in the coming days. “The IDF is on high alert and is cooperating with the Egyptians to prevent any such activity,” Vilna’i said.
Meanwhile, in what some Israeli defense officials said was a case of “too little, too late,” Egyptian security officials have launched a major campaign to track down the ubiquitous terror groups roaming Sinai.
The operation includes some 1,500 soldiers as well as tanks and armored vehicles, Egyptian daily al-Masry al-Youm reported Tuesday. Troops are scanning the border area, Rafiah, El-Arish, Sheikh Zweid and are working alongside Bedouin tribal leaders who are trying to convince the Jihad operatives to abandon violence.
“For years Egypt let the Bedouin do what they wanted in Sinai, with the result that Israelis have been suffering from their negligence,” one Israeli defense official was quoted as saying. “Tons of weapons were smuggled into Gaza from Sinai for use against Israelis, while the Egyptians turned a blind eye. Now it seems that the terror has come back to haunt them. Let's hope they have learned their lesson and are finally prepared to make an effort to control the terrorists.”