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Shark attacks and fatal boating accidents cast a shadow over Egypt's tourism

Egypt's tourism sector, which is a key pillar of its economy, relies heavily on the Red Sea. Its coral reefs, marine life and other attractions are world-renowned.

A recent series of boating accidents and shark attacks against tourists has raised concern, with several deaths reported over the years.

In the past, attacks by islamist militant groups against foreigners affected tourism in Egypt. Fewer tourists visited other attractions like the Great Pyramids at Giza or took a Nile Cruise in Luxor and Aswan.

BOATING ACCIDENTS

"Sindbad" tourist submarine sinks

Six Russian tourists were killed when a submarine called "Sindbad", a tourist vessel, sank on March 27, 2025 near Hurghada in the Red Sea. The vessel carried 50 passengers, including 45 Russian, Indian, Norwegian, and Swedish tourists, as well as five Egyptian crew.

The authorities rescued 39 victims and began an investigation to determine the cause.

"Sea Story" yacht capsizes

A tourist boat called "Sea Story", which was on a multiday diving trip near Marsa Alam, capsized in the Red Sea off the coast of Marsa Alam. Four people drowned. The vessel, which was carrying 31 tourists as well as 13 crew members, was hit by high waves and sank in minutes. Thirty three survivors with minor injuries were rescued and seven people remained unaccounted for as the rescue operation continued.

Boat fire "Hurricane".

A fire destroyed a motorboat called "Hurricane", north of Marsa Alam, near the diving resort Marsa Shagra.

The boat was carrying 15 British tourists on vacation, and 14 Egyptian crew members and guides. All crew members and 12 tourists were rescued. Three British tourists, who had been reported missing initially, were confirmed to have died.

Sinking of a tourist boat

On August 20, 2015 26 French tourists, and 10 Egyptians were saved after the boat that was transporting them hit coral and sank near the Red Sea.

SHARK ATTACKS

Shark kills Italian tourist off Marsa Alam resort

A shark attack in Marsa Alam resort killed an Italian tourist and injured another on December 29, 2024. The incident took place in deep water, outside of the designated swimming area near the jetties.

Tiger shark kills Russian citizen near Hurghada beach

A Russian national was killed by a tiger-shark on June 9, 2023 near the beach in Hurghada, a resort at the Red Sea.

The authorities then banned swimming, snorkelling, and other water sports on several nearby beaches.

Two women killed by sharks south of Hurghada

Two women died in separate shark attacks on July 3, 2022 south of Hurghada. One Austrian woman and one Romanian woman were attacked within 600 meters (2,000 feet) each other in Sahl Hasheesh.

Shark kills German woman while swimming in Sharm el-Sheikh A 70-year-old German was killed by a large shark on December 5, 2010 as she swam near the shore of the popular Sinai Peninsula resort Sharm el-Sheikh.

ISLAMIST MILITANT ATTACKS ON TOURISTS

Russian Metrojet Flight 9268 Crash On October 31, 2015, a Russian aircraft crashed in the Sinai Peninsula, shortly after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh. All 224 passengers on board were killed.

The aircraft was found to have broken up in mid-air when a loud sound was heard from the cockpit.

Later, it was determined that the explosion was likely caused by a bomb. The official magazine of the Islamic State later claimed responsibility by publishing a picture of a Schweppes bottle, claiming it was used in making the bomb.

Initial reports from Egypt stated that the crash had nothing to do with terrorism. Nearly a year after the crash, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi admitted that terrorists had brought down the plane in order to damage tourism and strain Cairo’s relations with Russia.

Taba Bus Bombing

Three South Korean tourists as well as the Egyptian driver of the bus were killed by a suicide bomber on February 16, 2014.

Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis a claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming that it was part their economic war with the Egyptian regime.

Luxor massacre

Six gunmen dressed as security officers killed 58 tourists from abroad and four Egyptians on November 17, 1997 at the Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, in Luxor.

Assailants had automatic weapons and knives. Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya, an islamist militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack. They said it was a bid to undermine the government by damaging the tourism industry.

In Egypt, successive governments have successfully cracked down on islamist militant groups and launched campaigns that helped to recover the tourism industry.

(source: Reuters)