Egypt is a huge draw for tourists, who have precious few days off work and want to spend them with a guarantee of hot sun, sandy beaches and clear blue seas. Right now, according to The Association of British Travel Agents there are 40,000 British tourists in Egypt – mostly in Red Sea resorts.

Egypt has declared a month-long state of emergency after scores of people were killed when security forces stormed two protest camps in Cairo.

Thousands of supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood had staged the sit-ins.

Police have arrested key Brotherhood members and taken control of the camps. The government says 149 people were killed in the operation.

The US condemned the emergency law and appealed for calm.

The Muslim Brotherhood says more than 2,000 people died in Wednesday’s violence.

Are resorts safe?

Travel agents insist that resorts are safe – a view that is backed up by official advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It has advised against all travel to the Governorate of North Sinai and all but essential travel to the rest of Egypt. However, is has specifically excluded: “resorts on the Red Sea in South Sinai and those resorts on the Egyptian mainland in Red Sea Governorate.”

It goes on to list that travel is safe in:

(i) the Red Sea Resorts including those in the entire region of Sharm el Sheikh, Taba, Nuweiba and Dahab;

(ii) the St. Catherine’s Monastery World Heritage Site;

(iii) road travel between the Red Sea resorts;

(iv) road travel from the Red Sea resorts to St Catherine’s Monastery approaching from the east;

(v) transfers between the resorts and the airports of Taba and Sharm el Sheikh.

It has also said it is not advising against using Cairo airport as a transit stop – as long as you don’t leave the airport.