Russia warns Egypt over tourist treatment: Report

Red Sea hotel ejects Russian group when their travel agency fails to pay bill; minister denies 'commercial' dispute will have any effect on tourism

Russia has cautioned Egypt over the "mistreatment" of its citizens after several Russian families were expelled from a Red Sea resort hotel when their bankrupt tour operators failed to pay.
The unnamed hotel in the southern Red Sea resort of Hurghada reportedly ejected several Russian families with children who had booked rooms, with staff claiming that their unnamed Russian travel agency had not paid for the guests' stay.
Russians represent Egypt's major source of visitors, with an estimated 2.8 million arriving in the country in 2010 alone.
Speaking to Ahram Online, Egypt's Minister of Tourism, Hisham Zaazou, said he had received no official complaint from the Russian Embassy.
Hestressed that it was a one-off incident connected to a commercial disagreement and had nothing to do with Egypt's tourism sector.
Zaazou's comments echoed those from Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Ministry, who was quoted in the Sunday edition of the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper.
"It should not concern tourists, this [problem] is related to the tourism agency," Bogdanov said.
Zaazou, who only heard about the incident by reading Al-Ahram, said the ministry had begun an investigation and would take steps to ensure such incidents are not repeated in future.
"Were a similar case to happen in future, I would insist the hotel saves rooms for the tourists. The hotel should then send a message to the tourist agency saying it would not deal with them again," he told Ahram Online.
The Russian Embassy in Cairo failed to respond to requests for further information.