German Ambassador in Cairo Julius Georg Luy has said that Hurghada is the preferable tourist destination for Germans.

About 20,000 Germans are currently spending vacation in Hurghada and an additional 1,500 are in the resort city of Sharm el Sheikh, Luy told reporters on Wednesday.

Berlin has decided that Germans should travel to Sharm el Sheikh on flights other than the ones carrying their baggage, Luy said, adding this has suspended tourism movement to the resort city.

The diplomat said that his country understands that tourism is a pillar of the Egyptian economy.

The Egyptian and German governments are negotiating ways to tighten security measures at airports, Luy added.