In the popular seaside resort in Egypt, the loungers of these days are stacked into towers, not a single tourist can be seen under the parasols. Because of the Corona crisis, holidaymakers left, hotels and restaurants were closed. And nobody knows when the beach life here will go back to normal.
The hotels in Hurghada are only staffed with the most necessary staff, says Marcel Lauck, who comes from Mannheim and runs a bar in Hurghada. "There's just nothing going on in the streets. You only see a few joggers. The sea is also cordoned off." He and his friends would now pass the days with sports or online courses. "You have come to terms with the situation and make the most of your time-out," says the 34-year-old, who emigrated to Egypt almost ten years ago.
Similar pictures also in Sharm El Sheikh
The beaches in Sharm El Sheikh, another popular seaside resort in Egypt, are deserted, residents say. Like Hurghada – and Egypt in general – the place lives very strongly from tourism. More than 13 million vacationers visited the North African country in 2019. Many Germans travel regularly to relax on the beach or go diving. This income has now been broken down by the corona virus. Some experts suspect that the industry is losing $ 1 billion a month due to the crisis.
"The Germans don't let their vacation be taken away"
Marcel Lauck believes that normality will return sometime after the crisis. "The Germans don't let their vacation be taken." Hurghada also survived the political upheavals of 2011 and 2013 and the crisis after several terrorist attacks when tourism slumped. The coral reefs and the fantastic weather in November – sooner or later holidaymakers would rediscover all of this. Lauck also wants to open his bar again.
And the empty streets and beaches would also have their advantages, says Lauck: "To be honest, it's really cool here. The weather is great, you have a lot of space and you can do whatever you want."