Russian tourists in Egypt to travel home separately from their luggage

Russian tourists leaving Egypt will only be able to take cabin baggage with them, and their other luggage will be delivered later on cargo planes, Russia’s tourism chief said. There are an estimated 80,000 Russians staying in Hurgada and Sharm el-Sheikh.

Authorities stressed they are not planning any emergency evacuation, the head of Russia's federal tourism agency Oleg Safonov told journalists Saturday. “A process of planned transfer of tourists from Hurghada, Cairo and Sharm el-Sheikh will take place,” he said.

Safonov said that new tourists from Russia will not be able to visit the country. Russia will send empty planes to bring home travelers scheduled to come back at the end of their vacations.

Meanwhile, safety measures at Russian airports have long been stepped up, deputy PM Arkady Dvorkovich said Saturday, adding that the authorities consider them satisfactory.

Russia's Emergencies Ministry will be sending planes to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh to pick up tourists' luggage, leaving Egypt with cabin luggage only, the ministry's press service told TASS on Saturday.

"One plane will leave from Cairo for Sharm el-Sheikh, the second will depart from Moscow to Hurghada to deliver the luggage of those who left Egypt without it," the ministry's representative said, adding that the work will be organised jointly with local authorities.