Egyptian “tourists” are allegedly jumping ship to become illegal immigrants in a number of Mediterranean countries, which have responded by barring passengers on Egypt’s tour boats from disembarking in their ports.
These governments have accused tourist companies of charging their passengers additional fees to facilitate their transport and smuggling, according to Al Messa newspaper.
“I decided to accompany my family on a sea voyage in the Mediterranean organized by an Egyptian company. When I applied for a visa at the Greek consulate in Cairo, I was surprised to learn that 48 Egyptians who were on board an Egyptian boat in Rhodes fled and disappeared,” said Said Wahbeh, a hotel manager in Cairo.
Wahbeh called on the ministries of tourism and interior to clamp down on companies that organize such trips.
Avricama Jinadi, the captain of one such vessel, said that 11 companies had facilitated the flight of over 400 Egyptians to France aboard his ship, out of a total of 564 passengers.
French security agencies are still searching for the fleeing passengers at the expense of the Egyptian company, the captain added – Albawaba.com
