Noticing an improvement in security conditions in Egypt, the Japanese embassy in Cairo stated that it would be easing its travel warning about the country. The decision was reported in a press statement on Tuesday in which Japanese nationals were permitted to visit, with caution, areas outside Alexandria, Greater Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel. The only areas that remain within the ‘level 1’ travel warning are the Western desert, North Sinai and the border with Libya. In 2011, Japan had assigned a Level 2 travel warning which meant that no trips to Egypt were preferably planned and full responsibility of tourist companies during organized trips. It is not the only country that has expressed its concern with the three areas; indeed, the U.S, the UK and several countries have also strongly advised citizens not to travel to the same locations, even recommending that Sharm El-Sheikh be accessed only by air. Currently EgyptAir offers directs flights between Cairo and Japan’s Tokyo as well as Tokyo and Luxor. Egypt’s tourism industry has been struggling in recent years due to the instability that followed the 2011 uprising. According to Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif…
